Officials: Ban Sex Offenders From Public Buildings

BOSTON -- Now city councilors in New Bedford are trying to protect kids by keeping sex offenders out of public buildings after police said a child was raped at a library.

NewsCenter 5's Bianca de la Garza reported Friday that Corey Saunders, a homeless Level 3 sex offender, was charged with raping a 6-year-old boy who was at the library with his mother.

City councilors are now calling for safety zones around schools and libraries and are seeking to ban all Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from public buildings.

"We are going to do whatever we have to do to keep kids safe," victims' advocate Laurie Myers said.

Myers said that restricting offenders is not the real solution because enforcement is difficult.

"We have cities and towns with budget deficits, they are cutting police departments. How are we going to give them another thing to do?" she said.

Instead, Myers said that she wants tough sentencing. She is fighting for the passage of Jessica's Law. Named for Jessica Lunsford, it would set mandatory minimum sentences for sex crimes against children.

Saunders was convicted in 1999 for molesting and attempted rape of a 7-year-old. A judge freed him last year despite warnings from 3 psychologists and the district attorney that he was a threat.

"If we are saying there is no interest, then cities and towns are going to do whatever they have to do to keep kids safe," Myers said.

Massachusetts is just one of 12 states yet to pass Jessica's Law. Myers said if legislators had acted on it last November instead of having it in committee, Saunders would be facing serious time.

"You can't take your kids to the library without worrying about someone being molested. It's out of control," Myers said.