Wynford Eugene Murray - Repeat Sex Offender Picks and Chooses which laws he'll abide by

Investigation by the two departments revealed that Murray was convicted in New York in 1997 for two counts of child molestation on two girls, ages 3 and 5.

A transient who was suspected of downloading child pornography at a Redondo Beach library will stand trial for failing to register as a sex offender, a judge ruled Friday.

Wynford Eugene Murray, 35, was never charged over the alleged child pornography, but faces a possible 25 years to life in prison if convicted of failing to register because such a conviction could count as a third strike.

During a preliminary hearing in Torrance Superior Court, Murray's former girlfriend said she reported Murray after finding child pornography in his backpack last summer.

The girlfriend, also a transient who met Murray at a church that feeds the homeless in December, testified that the photos were "sick" and she thought reporting him "was the right thing to do."

After his arrest in Long Beach in August, he wrote her a letter in which he apologized, and said he did not register because he was trying to forget his past.

Los Angeles police Sgt. John Alviani, the former head of the Registration Enforcement and Compliance Team in the San Fernando Valley, said he became aware of Wynford in February.

A Canoga Park resident reported that she allowed Murray to live in a room in her house for free in exchange for chores, Alviani said during questioning by Deputy District Attorney Ann Lee.

However, she told Alviani she kicked Murray out in December. She said she found him printing pornography on her computer, then searched his room and found pictures of children and a sex offender registration form from Virginia.

The Los Angeles police issued a warrant for his arrest, but Murray had moved to Redondo Beach, where he was living under the pier, according to his girlfriend and police.

Redondo Beach police Sgt. Shawn Freeman said his department began looking for Murray because of the possible child pornography use.

Investigation by the two departments revealed that Murray was convicted in New York in 1997 for two counts of child molestation on two girls, ages 3 and 5.

As a result of that conviction, Murray was required to register as a sex offender after serving six months in jail.

However, he did not, and moved to Virginia, where he was arrested and convicted in 2006 for failing to register, according to Alviani.

Freeman obtained Murray's registration files from various law enforcement agencies in New York and Virginia, and said Murray had signed documents that stated he may have to register if he moved to other states.

However, under cross-examination by Murray's attorney, Deputy Alternate Public Defender Ernestine Odom, Freeman agreed that none of those documents specifically said Murray would have to register in California.

Odom also questioned whether it was clear her client was living in the state, or just visiting.

Freeman said Murray was collecting welfare benefits from the states, and his former girlfriend and landlord place him in California for an extended period of time.

Judge Laura Ellison, though, said it appeared to her that Murray was living in the state and that he knew he was required to register based on the letter he sent to his former girlfriend.

Murray remains held on $1million bail and will return to court Dec. 5.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"

.........Sarah Tofte