Sex Offenders Legislation and YOUR Reactions
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: August 3, 2012
"And after she entered her home what happened? Well one of us had to go
and it sure as hell wasn't going to be," says Robert Blainey, serial
rapist and convicted murderer.
Those are the chilling words of serial rapist and convicted murderer Robert Blainey at his sentencing as he admitted to killing Davis Motel owner Linda Turner.
Today Governor Cuomo signed legislation into law to better protect New Yorkers from sex offenders by strengthening the state's civil procedures. Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky spoke with community members to hear how they feel about the new law. She joins us live, Rachel?
I'm at the Davis Motel where many of you may remember is the scene of the killing of Linda Turner by serial rapist Robert Blainey. Although it's too late to save Linda Turner, this new law is designed to protect similar horrific crimes from happening in the future - and many community members say the news is long overdue.
"Well I was a victim when I was a kid. I believe it's great. Sex offenders should have to go through anything and everything to keep the streets safe and my kids safe and everybody's kids safe," says Crystal Rios, mom Utica resident.
"I have 15 grandkids and it scares me to no end that these kids play outside and any moment someone can walk by and grab them," says John Polchinski, Utica resident.
The first part of the law authorizes officials to update photos of high-risk sexual offenders every 90 days. A neighbor of Blainey's says this law could have made a difference.
"He lived up the street from me on rutger street and we never realized it. How are we supposed to know who he is? When you see the picture in the 80s compared to the picture when they caught him, you would have never known it was the same person," says Donna Zurek, Utica resident.
"They should be hit hard because they're victims were hit hard, theyre lives were destroyed, they should be disicplined, they should have to do all this, they should have to do more than this because thats how often this happens to young girls out here," says Rios.
Live Interviews with Senator Joe Griffo and Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi.
Those are the chilling words of serial rapist and convicted murderer Robert Blainey at his sentencing as he admitted to killing Davis Motel owner Linda Turner.
Today Governor Cuomo signed legislation into law to better protect New Yorkers from sex offenders by strengthening the state's civil procedures. Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky spoke with community members to hear how they feel about the new law. She joins us live, Rachel?
I'm at the Davis Motel where many of you may remember is the scene of the killing of Linda Turner by serial rapist Robert Blainey. Although it's too late to save Linda Turner, this new law is designed to protect similar horrific crimes from happening in the future - and many community members say the news is long overdue.
"Well I was a victim when I was a kid. I believe it's great. Sex offenders should have to go through anything and everything to keep the streets safe and my kids safe and everybody's kids safe," says Crystal Rios, mom Utica resident.
"I have 15 grandkids and it scares me to no end that these kids play outside and any moment someone can walk by and grab them," says John Polchinski, Utica resident.
The first part of the law authorizes officials to update photos of high-risk sexual offenders every 90 days. A neighbor of Blainey's says this law could have made a difference.
"He lived up the street from me on rutger street and we never realized it. How are we supposed to know who he is? When you see the picture in the 80s compared to the picture when they caught him, you would have never known it was the same person," says Donna Zurek, Utica resident.
"They should be hit hard because they're victims were hit hard, theyre lives were destroyed, they should be disicplined, they should have to do all this, they should have to do more than this because thats how often this happens to young girls out here," says Rios.
Live Interviews with Senator Joe Griffo and Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi.
