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Judge McKinnon says teen offender stays on Web registry |
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Thursday, 20 December 2007 |
District Judge Laurie McKinnon ruled on Monday that Colt Harris, age 14, must continue to register as a sex offender in the State of Montana Web site.
The teenager has pled true to sexually assaulting a four-year-old.
A morning session was filled with testimony from parents, school officials and friends who all, in some way or another agreed that Harris didn’t need to be registered because of Conrad being such a small community, everyone knew about this through newspapers, radio and the school system.
Utterback Middle School Principal Craig Barringer testified he is comfortable following the guidelines of the court and with the school sending a letter to parents that a sex offender was attending UMS. He said the school receives about three calls a week that are mostly informational type calls and want to know what is the school doing.
He also said he is comfortable with what the school is doing and their mailed out newsletter has the registry on-line address.
Charlene Bouma, Harris’ mother, in an emotional testimony, testified that her son has been under 24-hour supervision, which was required since his earlier plea to charges.
She noted that he continues to be active in 4-H, has taken on counseling and has made the honor roll at school.
She fears that by being registered on line he may become a victim again.
The 2007 legislation passed a bill that requires juveniles to register.
McKinnon ruled, “I cannot make a finding that not registering Harris is in the best interest of the pubic.”
While it was noted that he has already paid a “heavy price,” for his actions, the judge said, “This court is not willing to accept the chance of error.”
County Attorney Mary Ann Ries noted that by registering on the State’s Web site, “It was the best way to inform the community about a sex offender in the community.
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