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Feb 29, 2008 6:49 pm US/Eastern
Judge Under Fire For Releasing 3rd Sex Offender
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WBZ) ―
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David Flavell was arrested at a nearby donut shop and charged with annoying and accosting a person sexually and disorderly conduct.
WBZ
A judge who released two dangerous sex offenders is being strongly criticized for releasing a third.
Superior Court Judge Richard Moses has released another convicted sex offender, who is believed to have since committed more crimes.
Kenneth Stone was released from prison in June after Moses determined he wasn't sexually dangerous. Stone, a level 3 sex offender, was arrested last weekend for allegedly raping a man in Taunton.
"This particular judge was asked to make a judgment call, and he's been wrong three times," said Taunton police Chief Raymond O'Berg.
Stone is the third sex offender released by Moses who allegedly went on to re-offend.
Corey Saunders is accused of raping a young boy in a library earlier this month after he was released by Moses. Moses is also responsible for releasing David Flavell who was arrested last week for peeping at a woman in a bathroom stall at a book store.
In 1989, Stone was convicted of assault and battery after groping a woman. In 1991, he was convicted of assault with intent to rape. He has since re-offended and attacked multiple women in 1991 and 1995.
"Our experience is these level 3 sex offenders don't get there because they didn't do something," O'Berg said.
The Bristol County District Attorney tried to have all three sex offenders civilly committed. In this most recent case, a court spokeswoman said Judge Moses applied the law and determined the state had not proved that Kenneth Stone was sexually dangerous.
Both police and prosecutors are very concerned about Moses' decisions in these cases.
Stone is currently being held without bail.
Legislation has been filed on Beacon Hill to change the process for releasing sex offenders.
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