Sex Offenders Not Welcome In Wildomar

Wildomar sent a chilly message to sex offenders Wednesday night.

During its regularly scheduled meeting, City Council members were unanimous in voting to add a new chapter to the Wildomar municipal code that restricts where sex offenders can live and move about in the city.

According to city documents, the added chapter came at the urging of the Wildomar Police Department, which suggested the city update its code, similar to one in effect in Riverside County.

“The City is concerned with recent occurrences, within the City and elsewhere in California, where multiple registered sex offenders have been residing in clusters and adopting the proposed ordinance would address that issue …,” according to a staff report prepared by City Attorney Julie Hayward Biggs.

Under the new Wildomar code, a sex offender is now prohibited from living under the same roof as another offender unless they are related or the residence is a state-licensed care facility serving six or fewer.

In 2006, California voters approved Proposition 83, the Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act, commonly referred to as Jessica’s Law. Under that Act, sex offenders who are required to register with law enforcement in the Sex Offender Tracking Program are prohibited from living in a single-family dwelling with another sex offender during parole, unless they are related. They are also prohibited from residing within 2,000 feet of any public or private school, or any park where children regularly gather.

Wildomar property owners are also on notice with the updated city code, which prohibits knowingly renting or leasing to more than one sex offender unless they are related; state-licensed care facilities serving fewer than six are exempt.

The updated municipal code also cracks down on loitering. Sex offenders are prohibited from loitering within 300 feet of a child daycare facility, a public or private school, a public or private school bus stop, a park, a public library, a public swimming or wading pool, a commercial establishment that has an on-site or adjacent children's playground, or a place where classes or group activities for children are held.

Sex offender parents and legal guardians can drop their children off in these places, but they cannot loiter.

Sex offenders who violate the code may be found guilty of a misdemeanor, fined and sentenced to prison, according to the city documents.

According to the staff report prepared by Hayward Biggs, law enforcement and the city will enforce the ordinance, which could potentially increase costs for Wildomar.

"A reduction in costs may also be realized by enforcement efforts that deter sex offenders from residing in Wildomar," she wrote.