WV - Sex offender registry laws vary by state

Original Article

05/02/2014

By Courtney Khondabi

CHARLESTON - "I got goose bumps,” said Laura Jones.

Laura Jones said it is alarming to learn that sex offenders are living near schools. She said it is even more alarming to learn there is a special group of convicts classified as Sexually Violent Predators.

13 News found 37 listed on the West Virginia Sex Offender Registry and some are living near schools.

We found two in Cabell County. One lives about 530 feet from Cox Landing Elementary school in Lesage.

We found three in Kanawha County. Two are living in shelters just 1050 feet from Sacred Heart Grade School.

"It's horrible, this definitely needs to change," said Jones.

We have learned that all of these 37 worst sex offenders are from out-of-state. 30 are from Ohio and the rest from Pennsylvania, Indiana and Florida.

We wanted to know why and here is what the State Supreme Court tells us:

Prosecutors in West Virginia have the option to recommend cases for special status, but it seems they are not going through the steps.

We also wanted to find out why so many are from Ohio.

According to the Division of Corrections, they may have relatives in West Virginia or they lived in the state at one time.

In addition, West Virginia laws are not as strict about where sex offenders can live.

In Ohio, no convicted sex offender can live within 1,000 feet of a school. Kentucky has a similar law.

In West Virginia there are fewer restrictions, and many are allowed to live wherever they want.

Lt. D.B. Swiger of the West Virginia State Police said they do their best to keep up with where sex offenders are living.

The law requires sexually violent predators to report to state police four times a years and troopers make sure their information is up-to-date every 90 days.

"When we became the caretaker of the sex offender registry there wasn't any extra budgeting planned for that so it’s another task we have taken on that's essentially unfunded, we are going to get our job done no matter what it takes," said Lt. Swiger.

Lt. Swiger encourages parents to use the registry and to keep up with who is living in your neighborhood.

Laura Jones said she will definitely check the registry, now that she knows how many sex offenders live near her family.

WV - Former CU police officer (Randy Keith Cordle) pleads guilty to sexual abuse

Randy Keith Cordle

Original Article

02/07/2014

By GREG JORDAN

PRINCETON - A former Concord University police officer pleaded guilty Thursday in Mercer County Circuit Court to sexual abuse involving a minor.

Randy Keith Cordle, 47, of Athens, appeared for a plea hearing before Circuit Court Judge Derek Swope. Cordle was arrested in June 2012 and later indicted on one count of third-degree sexual assault and five counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian.

Cordle pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian, according to court documents. The felony charge carries a penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison, a fine ranging from $500 to $5,000, or both.

In the plea agreement, the state will dismiss the other charges and not oppose a motion for alternative sentencing, according to the plea documents.

Sgt. M.D. Clemons, of the West Virginia State Police Crimes Against Children Unit, said the victim was a family member.

“It (the abuse) started when she was 15,” Clemons said when Cordle was arrested. “He was in a caretaker role.”

Clemons added that the incidents occurred at Cordle’s residence, and no inappropriate behavior was alleged to have occurred at the university.

A criminal complaint filed in Mercer County Magistrate Court stated that the victim advised that she had sexual intercourse and engaged in other sexual acts with Cordle beginning in 2011 when she was 15.

The victim said the last instance of sexual intercourse happened at the Mercer County Airport in May 2012, while the previous incidents occurred at Cordle’s residence in the Lashmeet area, the complaint stated. Cordle admitted when Clemons interviewed him to having intercourse with the victim on multiple occasions, according to the criminal complaint.

Clemons said Concord University officials cooperated with her in the investigation.

Cordle no longer works for the campus police. Sentencing was set for April 15.