Sex criminal seeks same on Calif. database
A convicted child molester used a public database of California sex criminals to solicit men for sex, in what police said Friday was the first case of its kind.
They said Glen Westberg, 35, wrote letters seeking dates to several other offenders listed on an official state Internet site. The data, assembled under the U.S. "Megan's Law" to protect children from sexual predators, is intended to warn citizens of potential nearby threats.
The Internet site came online in California in December. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law in September allowing its creation.
Westberg "viewed the probationer's photograph, thought he was cute, noticed that his commitment offense was the same as his and at that time asked if they would like to hook up," said Bill Ahern, commander of San Mateo County's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement task force.
One of the contacted men told police. Law enforcement officials sent an agent who resembled the targeted man to meet Westberg at a coffee shop in Redwood City, south of San Francisco.
Police confronted Westberg, who had shown up 30 minutes early for the rendezvous. He confessed that he had contacted several men in violation of his probation conditions, Ahern said.
Police arrested Westberg, a shipping clerk at a San Jose mall, on Thursday; he faces up to six months in prison if convicted.
Story Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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A convicted child molester used a public database of California sex criminals to solicit men for sex, in what police said Friday was the first case of its kind.
They said Glen Westberg, 35, wrote letters seeking dates to several other offenders listed on an official state Internet site. The data, assembled under the U.S. "Megan's Law" to protect children from sexual predators, is intended to warn citizens of potential nearby threats.
The Internet site came online in California in December. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law in September allowing its creation.
Westberg "viewed the probationer's photograph, thought he was cute, noticed that his commitment offense was the same as his and at that time asked if they would like to hook up," said Bill Ahern, commander of San Mateo County's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement task force.
One of the contacted men told police. Law enforcement officials sent an agent who resembled the targeted man to meet Westberg at a coffee shop in Redwood City, south of San Francisco.
Police confronted Westberg, who had shown up 30 minutes early for the rendezvous. He confessed that he had contacted several men in violation of his probation conditions, Ahern said.
Police arrested Westberg, a shipping clerk at a San Jose mall, on Thursday; he faces up to six months in prison if convicted.
Story Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
link
