GPS tracking leads to Megan’s Law arrest
The Associated Press
Published: Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Updated: Tuesday, May 30, 2006
NEWTON, N.J. (AP) - A high-tech tracking system led authorities to charge a high-risk sex offender with a Megan’s Law violation in a first-of-its-kind case in the state.
Police say Thomas Ziniewicz, 35, was living at his girlfriend’s house, rather than his registered address. Sex offenders are required under state law to notify law enforcement if they plan to live somewhere other than their registered address.
A Newton police affidavit says a GPS tracking report shows Ziniewicz was living at a different address for 21 days between April 24 and May 23.
The arrest marks the first time GPS technology has been used to gather evidence for a Megan’s Law violation, said Capt. Sean Asay of the state Parole Board, which monitors New Jersey’s GPS tracking program for sex offenders… Read Full Article Here:
I’ve written on this subject before and I’m going to keep writing on it again and again until more states get the message. There’s still a huge ground swell of opinion that GPS tracking costs too much. Yet forcing released sexual predators to wear GPS is proving again and again the value of the investment.
Here we have a fellow that we don’t know about. Perhaps it was just innocent that he was living with his girl friend rather than where the state law required him to live. On the other hand, he (and his demonstrably not-so-smart girlfriend could have been cooking up plots so disgusting and fiendish I don’t want to think about them.
For a very few dollars of investment the state let this low-life out to prove his worthiness to return to society. Had he chosen to obey the law he could still be free. But he decided, even knowing that he was being tracked, that he would just give the state the one-digit salute. He belongs back in jail, for the crime of terminal stupidity if nothing else and the state can put his bracelet on the next paroled man … to test his worthiness for returning to society.
I think it’s just too bad they can’t find something to charge the girlfriend with too. Surely the woman knew his history … or at the very least that he was wearing a GPS “convict” bracelet. Where ever was here mind?
Congratulations to the forward thinkers and to those still mired in the past, start “getting it”, will you, please?