Timothy Temple - Repeat Sex Offender - Caught in the Act

He is a convicted sex offender with a criminal history that goes back more than 15 years. In 1993, he was convicted of attempted sexual battery. He was also convicted of stalking in 2006 and again in 2008.

Metro police said they believe Timothy Temple, a convicted sex offender, is responsible for peering into homes in west Nashville.

"It's shocking, to be honest with you," said Cory McClain.

McClain and his wife moved to their Westlawn Drive home a year ago for its charm, he said.

"It's a really friendly neighborhood," he said. "Everyone's running, biking or walking their dogs. It's just been tremendous."

Jennifer Hannah moved to the area a month ago for the same reasons.

"We just like the neighborhood," she said. "My husband lived down the street off Wyoming for awhile. It just seemed like a safe neighborhood."

Safety came into question for Hannah and McClain with recent news of a peeping tom.

According to Metro police, several homes along Westlawn Drive, 18th Ave South and Hillsboro Pike have been victim to an unwanted guest for nearly a month. Several women reported seeing a man looking into bedroom and bathroom windows late at night or early in the morning. In some cases, he left notes for the victims telling them what he saw.

On Friday morning, undercover Metro Detective Charles Taylor caught Temple looking into a window on 18th Avenue South just after midnight. Police aren't releasing his picture because of the ongoing investigation, but Temple is no stranger to the law.

He is a convicted sex offender with a criminal history that goes back more than 15 years. In 1993, he was convicted of attempted sexual battery. He was also convicted of stalking in 2006 and again in 2008.

Temple refused to talk to police Friday but was arrested on charges of trespassing and driving on a revoked license. More criminal charges are possible pending the outcome of the investigation, police said.

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

"On average most sex offenders are never caught again for a new sex offense, after five years, between 10 and 15 percent of sex offenders are detected, often convicted, of committing a new sex offense. If you follow them for ten years the rates go up somewhat, if you follow them as long as we’ve been able to follow them, which is about 20 years, the rates go up to somewhere between 30 to 40 percent of the total sample will eventually be caught for a new sex offense."

Dr. R. Karl Hansen