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The audit also found there was poor follow-up with police if offenders failed to confirm their address and inaccuracies with sex offender driver's license information.

Another poke for Real ID for 'safety's sake'-------- Another well tuned instrument string.......

http://www.dailygazette.com

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Audit: Tracking
of sex offenders
not good enough
    ALBANY — An audit finds that the state isn’t keeping track of registered sex offenders as well as it should be.
    The audit of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services finds that the agency properly notified local police of offenders who failed to verify their addresses as required, but it did not require the police to report what they had done about it.
    State comptroller’s office auditors also find that the agency needs to improve the way it verifi es some sex offenders’ driver’s license information and should expand its public awareness efforts to include signs on public transportation.
    The comptroller’s report says it made a series of recommendations for improvement, and the agency is following that advice.

Has someone found the exit from this paper bag, it is dark and stifling......

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State comptroller’s office auditors also find that the agency needs to improve the way it verifi es some sex offenders’ driver’s license information and should expand its public awareness efforts to include signs on public transportation.

I say tattoo the forearm....dont punish the rest of the non-convicted 'sex-offenders' by tampering with drivers licenses....

http://www.dailygazette.com

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Man accused of molesting boy, may face life in prison
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
By Steven Cook (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

SCHENECTADY — A Schenectady man who spent time in federal prison on a child pornography conviction now faces up to life in state prison, accused of sexually abusing a 6-year-old boy, authorities said this afternoon.
Steven Ahders, 29, of Brandywine Avenue, was charged today with predatory sexual assault against a child, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Ahders is accused of abusing the child between January and June 2007 in Schenectady.
Ahders knew the child after meeting the child’s mother through personal ads two years ago, assistant Schenectady County Assistant District Attorney Andra Ackerman said.
The child disclosed late last year abuse that Ackerman described as “horrific” and “the worst of the worst.”
Ahders is listed on the state sex offender registry as a Level 1 offender, the lowest-level risk to reoffend, according to registry officials. He served 46 months in federal custody related to a 2001 conviction on child pornography possession. He admitted then to using his home computer to trade nude images of children and other people and advertised the service in an Internet chat room.

At least that sicko is going to be in jail for a long long time so we won't have to worry about him.

How on earth would where he lived have any effect on this abuse?  Last I checked there was not a stipulation in the county legislation for living 2,000 feet outside of PERSONAL ADS.  He knew the child and his mother for two years.   There has not been any communication from the county as to if and when the next sex offender meeting will be.  Mike Lemandola from the gazette called me yesterday and we spoke of that same subject.  He said he was going to write a story.  Keep an eye out for it.

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Ahders knew the child after meeting the child’s mother through personal ads two years ago, assistant Schenectady County Assistant District Attorney Andra Ackerman said.

Risk comes with consequences....the government cannot police personal ads---has anyone read personal ads in Metroland??? Pretty scary.....we cannot police ourselves or human impulses....unless we want minority reporting----bottom line if they are convicted lock them up....I'm not sure where a cigar and stained blue dress fit in but, I'm sure they fit in somewhere......

WE DONT KNOW WHERE THE LINE TO BEING A SEX OFFENDER IS DRAWN, WHO GETS TO DRAW IT, AND WHO GETS TO ENFORCE IT OR EVEN WHAT TO DO WITH IT...................

As for this schmuck,,,,,he'll have pleanty of company where he is going

Here is an interesting note to keep in the back of your mind.  I, and Jean Frisbee were invited to speak to the Participation of Government class at Duanesburg High School.  It was a senior class, with many turning "of age" to vote.  They were well aware of the sex offender law enacted by the county and had thoughts and questions about it.  They also were under the impression it was enacted for the political enhancement of "the guy" who ran for a higher office.  I was delighted to know they have paid attention to the issue as a whole, and even more delighted they realized it was for political gain.  Very interesting and probably more informative for me then the entire talk was for them.

http://www.timesunion.com

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Albany sex abuser draws long sentence
By ROBERT GAVIN, Staff writer  
January 17, 2008

ALBANY - A city man was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison today for repeatedly molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2006.
     
Gary Alford, 49, was convicted Oct. 31 under the state's "Jessica's Law," passed in June 2006 to strengthen the penalties for sex crimes against children.
Alford, who abused the girl between August 2006 and March 2007, was found guilty after jurors deliberated less than 2 1/2 hours.
Assistant District David Rossi asked Judge Thomas Breslin to give Alford the strictest possible term, as did the victim's mother. Prison, the mother told Alford, is the "best place for you, to guarantee everyone's safety."
Alford's lawyer, Peter Lynch, asked Breslin to overturn the verdict, and was denied. He planned to appeal.
When asked to speak, Alford, who entered the courtroom by cane, maintained his innocence.
"I never touched her," Alford told the judge. "I feel that in my heart, I was not given a fair trial."
Jessica's Law, also known as predatory sexual assault against a child, calls for a minimum of 25 years in prison for the worst types of sex assaults against children. It was inspired by the death of Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl killed by a convicted sex offender in 2005.
Alford also was convicted of first-degree criminal sex act, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.

http://www.timesunion.com

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Parolee held on abuse charges
Schenectady man who served time on child porn conviction allegedly abused 6-year-old boy

By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer
January 17, 2008

SCHENECTADY -- A city man whose parole for a federal child pornography conviction had almost ended has been charged with sexually abusing a 6-year-old boy last year, authorities said.
     
Steven J. Ahders, 29, is being held without bail at the Schenectady County Jail. He's accused of engaging in sex acts with the boy at Ahders' North Brandywine Avenue home from January to July 2007. Ahders was acquainted with the boy, authorities said.
The boy and his mother moved out of state after the alleged abuse came to light, said Andra Ackerman, chief of the special victims unit in the Schenectady County district attorney's office.
She said Ahders could spend the rest of his life behind bars under a tougher state penalty for adults charged with sex crimes against a child under the age of 13.
He is charged with felony predatory sexual assault against a child; three counts of first-degree criminal sexual act; and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.
Authorities seized a laptop computer and digital cameras after executing a search warrant Tuesday morning at the North Brandywine Avenue home.
"This individual should not be out walking the streets, and thanks to Detective Arthur Zampella he's in custody, and we'll do everything within our power to make sure he remains there," Ackerman said. Zampella conducted the investigation.
Tom Spina, assistant U.S attorney in the Albany office, referring to Ahders' 2001 federal conviction, said local authorities were first alerted to Ahders after an investigation by German authorities into child pornography.
He said they discovered Ahders had an automated software system that allowed him to swap child pornography with others, and later found more than 1,000 images of minors involved in pornography on a computer seized from Ahders' home.
He pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and was sentenced in September 2001 to 46 months in jail and three years' parole. Spina said he believed Ahders was just days from completing parole related to that sentence.
Paul Nelson can be reached at 454-5347 or by e-mail at pnelson@timesunion.com.

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Here is an interesting note to keep in the back of your mind.  I, and Jean Frisbee were invited to speak to the Participation of Government class at Duanesburg High School.  It was a senior class, with many turning "of age" to vote.  They were well aware of the sex offender law enacted by the county and had thoughts and questions about it.  They also were under the impression it was enacted for the political enhancement of "the guy" who ran for a higher office.  I was delighted to know they have paid attention to the issue as a whole, and even more delighted they realized it was for political gain.  Very interesting and probably more informative for me then the entire talk was for them.

And for this I applaud the parents for communicating this issue to their kids. It just goes to prove that the parents have a real concern and this must have been discussed around many-a-supper tables. GOOD FOR THEM!!

http://www.dailygazette.com

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SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Sex offender risk re-evaluated Those having child porn may be listed Level 3
BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter

    Persons guilty of possessing child pornography could receive higher sex offender risk-level status under a policy now in place at the Schenectady County District Attorney’s office, an official said this week.
    Assistant Schenectady County District Attorney Andra Ackerman cited studies out in recent years that show those convicted of possessing child pornography are more dangerous than some previously thought.
    Ackerman said she intends to use those studies to argue for higher risk levels for such offenders. Risk levels are determined at hearings before a judge when a convict is released to the community.
    Ackerman made the comments after convicted sex offender Steven Ahders was arrested again, accused of molesting a 6-year-old child. Ahders previously served time in federal prison on a child pornography possession conviction.
    Ahders’ hearing came before the change, and he was given a Level 1 classification, applied to those considered the lowest risk to reoffend.
    Ackerman said she made the change some time ago, but similar cases have yet to come to hearings, meaning the change has yet to be tested locally.
    “Based on those studies, our office is doing everything we can to include these in [sex offender] hearings,” Ackerman said. “That could significantly change the assessment.”
    She intends to request Level 3s, the highest level, based on the type and number of photographs they possessed.
    The Federal Bureau of Prisons study, out in 2000, showed threefourths of those charged with child pornography possession later reported sexual contact crimes.
    Ahders knew the child in the current case after meeting the child’s mother through personal ads two years ago, Ackerman has said. The child disclosed late last year abuse that Ackerman described as “horrific” and “the worst of the worst.” He faces up to 25-years-to-life if convicted.
    It was unclear whether the mother thought to check Ahders’ status. But, had she checked the state’s online sex offender registry, she would have seen nothing. Ahders, as a Level 1, was by law not included online.
    Only by calling the state registry phone number, 800-262-3257, can information on Level 1s be found. Callers need the person’s name and some other identifying information, like date of birth or address.
    Level 2s and Level 3s can be searched online at http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/  and do not require a phone call.
    Asked about state risk levels and child pornography crimes, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Spina Jr. said he advocates a similar criteria.
    Spina’s office served 75 search warrants related to child pornography last year in the federal courts’ Northern District.
    Spina said he believes the public should be made better aware of someone convicted of such crimes.
    “The public needs to know that so parents can take care of their kids,” he said.

Go get 'em Ms. Ackerman!!!!!!!!

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The Federal Bureau of Prisons study, out in 2000, showed threefourths of those charged with child pornography possession later reported sexual contact crimes

Point proving that they need longer sentences....not a 'level label'!!!

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Ahders knew the child in the current case after meeting the child’s mother through personal ads two years ago

And I guess the mother should have some sense knocked into her for meeting people through personal ads. She is not only liable for herself but for her child as well. What the heck was she thinking?

The answer to all of this is just plain old 'longer prison sentences'! That my friends is a no brainer.

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The Federal Bureau of Prisons study, out in 2000, showed threefourths of those charged with child pornography possession later reported sexual contact crimes.

That was 7 years ago....is that our government's trickle down effect?????