Convicted sex offender who walked into Tully High School sparked lobbying for the law.
This is the convicted sex offender who inspired local parents, school officials to lobby for a law that would prevent offenders from entering a school their victim attends. George Reddick, of Marietta. a level 2 sex offender, walked into Tully High School in 2007; officials learned he had broken no laws.
When a convicted sex offender walked into Tully High School in January 2007 demanding the school records of his teenage victim, school officials immediately called the police.
They were stunned to learn the man had broken no laws.
“There was a general assumption that there was a restriction against that happening, so we were surprised to learn there wasn’t,” said Tully School Superintendent Kraig Pritts.
From that incident sprang a grassroots effort to enact legislation that would prevent a sex offender from entering school grounds. Tully parents and teachers, backed by the board and concerned residents from other school districts, sponsored forums to discuss the topic. They wrote to their state representatives to get their help in passing a law.
Now, 3½ years later, the group is on the verge of success. The bill this month passed the state Assembly and Senate and will soon be delivered to the governor for his consideration.
Assemblyman Al Stirpe and Sen. Dave Valesky have helped the bill get passsed, and Stirpe said Friday he expects it to be delivered to the governor this week or the week after. Since there's been no opposition, he expects it will be signed by the governor.
"This is a pretty narrow bill, and it really doesn't step on anyone's toes,'' he said.
The new law creates the category of criminal trespass by a level two or level three sex offender if he or she enters a school where the victim of his or her offense attends or formerly attended.
Pritts said the new law is different than what they wanted originally. The initial proposal called for prohibiting sex offenders from coming onto school grounds unless they were employed there or had a child who attended the school.
Instead, the new law says sex offenders can’t come into a school where their victim currently attends, or did so in the past.
“It’s not what we wanted at the start, but it’s much better than anything we’ve had before,” he said. “And I’ve heard from no one in opposition to this.”
Pritts said the legislation is a joint effort of parents, teachers, board members, other school districts like Onondaga and the persistence of state legislators.
“We never thought it would take three years to get this,” he said. “But we’re really happy because it gives us another tool in maintaining a safe climate for our students.”
The incident that prompted the proposed law happened Jan. 12, 2007, when George Reddick of Marietta delivered a subpoena after school hours asking for the school records of his victim. Pritts did not turn them over.
Reddick was convicted in Onondaga County Court on March 9, 2005, of second-degree rape, endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of second-degree sexual abuse. The charges stemmed from allegations that Reddick engaged in sexual conduct with a 13-year-old girl on two occasions in June and July 2003, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
According to the state sex offender registry, Reddick is a Level 2 offender. There are three levels, with Level 1 indicating the least risk of re-offending. This is his record.
The victim no longer attended the high school, but the incident rattled everyone, Pritts said. No one could believe a sex offender could legally walk into the school and face no repercussions.
In a related measure, the town of Tully became the fifth municipality in early 2009 to adopt a law banning Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from living, working or loitering within 500 feet of places where children congreagated, such as schools, theaters and beaches. There are some exceptions.
Elizabeth Doran can be reached at edoran@syracuse.com or 470-3012