Attorney General asks to expand list of registered sex offenders

CARSON CITY - The registry of sexual offenders in Nevada currently includes more than 1,300 rapists, child molesters and others convicted of sex crimes.

The registry could also include anyone convicted merely of conspiring to commit sex crimes under SB234, a bill requested by the attorney general's office and debated Friday in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The change is needed because some people charged with sex crimes plead down to conspiracy and never have to register as sex offenders, Deputy Attorney General Matthew Dushoff said.

But lawmakers were concerned about extending the registration requirement to people who hadn't actually committed a sexual offense - such as teen-age boys who chat recklessly on the Internet about ways to fulfill their sexual desires.

"What if two people on the Internet conversed about some grand scheme, but never pulled it off but it was intercepted by law enforcement?" asked Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks.

Conspiracy to commit a crime is difficult to prove and rarely prosecuted, so it is mainly used in plea bargains, responded Ben Graham of the Nevada District Attorneys Association.

"You're talking about someone who very likely was guilty of a sex assault or offense," he added.

Dushoff agreed, adding, "Police need to know if this person is, can be or may be a danger in the future."

Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said the panel would need more information before making a decision on the bill.

"Is this the type of crime that should be registered? Are they the type of people who should be registered?" James asked.

Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, also expressed concerns that the bill might punish the wrong people. "This doesn't mean we're for sex offenders. We just want some equity in punishment."

Nevada's sex offender registry began in 1961 and now includes more than 20 sex-related crimes. Offenders stay on the list for a minimum of 15 years, and some never have their names removed.

The list started out as a document only for law enforcement use in tracking the sex offenders' whereabouts. But under Nevada's version of "Megan's Law," there's some public notification now.

A 1995 law requires that schools, neighbors and community groups be notified if sex offenders in Nevada prisons are paroled into their neighborhoods. The level of notification depends on the risk of the offender committing more crimes.

The law was expanded by the 1997 Legislature to also require notification of sex offenders who move to Nevada from other states or who served out their sentences years ago.

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