Thursday, June 25, 2009

Cesar Haines - Repeat Sex Offender - Needs someone to watch him


A convicted rapist was picked up near Riverhead High School on Saturday on a public lewdness charge, three days after the owner of a local thrift shop told police she saw the man performing a lewd act inside her store, according to Riverhead police reports.

Cesar Haines, 27, is a Level 2 sex offender who served six months in county jail for a 2003 third-degree rape conviction, according to the state's sex offender registry. His victim was a stranger.

Mr. Haines' address on the state registry, last confirmed in January, was 92 Homestead Drive in Coram, though recent court records show he actually lives on Hamilton Avenue in Riverhead. Sex offenders are supposed to register their addresses with the state every 90 days.

It was not clear why Mr. Haines was not charged for failing to register as a sex offender in Riverhead.

When asked if Mr. Haines had ever stayed at the county Department of Social Service's homeless sex offender trailer in nearby Riverside, a department spokesman said he had not.

"He stayed at the Westhampton trailer on March 18, 2008, and refused further trailer placement," the spokesman said. "He has not been with us since, and had no DSS business in Riverhead. He's never been housed in Riverhead through us."

Mr. Haines was nabbed near the Harrison Avenue school about 1:30 p.m. He pleaded guilty to the public lewdness charge on Monday in Riverhead Justice Court and was sentenced to 30 days in county jail.

Riverhead schools superintendent Diane Scricca said activities were happening at that time outside the school, such as softball and lacrosse, and other activities inside.

"But no reports of any problems," she said. "He had nothing to do with our kids, from what I can tell."

According to police, Mr. Haines was allegedly chased from K's Treasure Chest thrift store on Osborn Avenue last Wednesday after he was seen performing a lewd act.

The owner of the store called Riverhead police about 4 p.m. and said she recognized the man, who fled, as a regular customer named Cesar and, according to the police report, "knows him to live on Hamilton Avenue" in Riverhead.

A woman reached at the thrift store by phone confirmed the incident occurred, but declined to comment further.

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

No comments: