After Sex Offender Moves To Highlands Ranch, Parents Vow To Change Law

Some Highlands Ranch parents want to stop sex offenders from living near children and they plan to write a letter to legislators.

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Parents Upset That Sex Offender Has Moved Near Schools

The concern is in part because a violent sexual predator has moved into their neighborhood.

More than 1,000 in the Highlands Ranch community packed the Thunder Ridge High School gymnasium Thursday night to voice their concerns to the Douglas County Sheriffs Department.

The meeting was held to inform the community of a violent sexual offender, Michael Christopher Carroll, 36, who has recently moved there.

In accordance to state law, deputies must inform those living near Carroll of his presence. Deputies also wanted to teach people about sexual predators so they could keep their kids safe. On Thursday night, authorities gave some information about sexual offenders but didn't go into great detail.

However, a clinical psychologist said that's not enough to ease people's fear. Leigh Baker said the community needs to know what kind of safeguards the sexual predator has put in place so he or she doesn't re-offend.

"The community needs to understand sex offender treatment, and understand the kinds of treatment, the kinds of supervision, the kinds of limitations that these people are placed under," said Baker.

Caroll was convicted in Florida for soliciting boys for sex and has served his time in Florida. Caroll told 7NEWS he understand people's concern but he wants a chance to move on with his life and to prove to people that they don't have to be afraid.

Some parents who attended the meeting said that they were more disheartened after hearing from the sheriff's office. They said that they felt Carroll had more rights than they did. They said not far from where Carrol now lives is a high school, a middle school and two elementary schools.

"I'm really surprised that they would allow him to live, first of all, in an area so close to schools, and second, in an area so full of kids. He had a lot of choices, I don't know why he had to come here," said parent Kelly Donlan.

"There's children that go on and off track all the time, so there's kids always out in their yards playing, and I'm concerned for their safety," said parent Linda Wasem.

To get a registered sex offender list for your neighborhood, visit your local police department and ask for the sex offender registry. There's usually a small handling fee involved.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Web site also provides names and pictures of sexually violent predators, or those who have had two or more adult felony convictions or those who have failed to register.