Saturday, May 9, 2009

Gerald Allen Burbank - Registered Sex Offender



A 63-year-old registered sex offender was in custody Friday after being arrested on suspicion of repeatedly molesting two girls during the last six years, Marysville police reported.

Gerald Allen Burbank was arrested without incident at his home in the 1900 block of Ramirez Street at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. His arrest resulted from an investigation launched Wednesday when one of the girl's parents told police a molestation had taken place at Burbank's home, said Sgt. John Osbourn.

The girls are 12 and 13 years old. Burbank and both victims reportedly all knew each other, but Osbourn declined to state further details about the relationship to protect the girls' identities.

As far as police can tell the girls were abused individually, with repeated sexual abuse dating back at least six years or more, Osbourn said. The investigation is ongoing.

"We are interested in hearing from any potential victims," Osbourn said. "But we are not aware of any more at this time and don't suspect there are."

Burbank was booked into Yuba County Jail on two counts of felonious lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, and one count of felonious oral copulation with a child under the age of 14. He was held on $100,000 bail.

Burbank is a registered sex offender for a prior conviction of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, according to the State of California Department of Justice Registered Sex Offender Web site. Further details of his prior conviction were not immediately available.

Marysville has a higher concentration of registered sex offenders than other areas, Osbourn said. The number of registered sex offenders creates an additional workload through registration and police efforts to ensure compliance.

Registered sex offenders who may victimize again is always a concern, and child sexual abuse happens too often in this area, Osbourn said.

"The Police Department goes to great lengths to prevent this behavior," Osbourn said. "We are extremely intolerant of predators who victimize children, whether sexual or whether through neglect."

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

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