The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to RCW 4.25.550 and the Washington State Supreme Court decision in State vs Ward, which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender's release, when in the discretion of the agency the release of information will enhance public safety and protection.
The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense that requires registration with the Sheriff’s Office in their county of residence. Further, their previous criminal history places them in a classification level which reflects the potential to re-offend.
This sex offender has served the sentence imposed on him by the Court and has advised the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office that he will be living at the location listed below. He is not wanted by the Sheriff’s Office at this time. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office has no legal authority to direct where a sex offender may or may not live. Unless a Court ordered restriction exists, this offender is constitutionally free to live wherever he chooses.
David Stewart was convicted of rape of a child in the first degree in Snohomish County in 2003. He served 90 months in the Monroe Corrections Complex in Monroe, WA. He has completed his probation and required sex offender treatment. The victim in the case was a family member and was ongoing for years. The victim was ‘bribed” with candy and video games to remain silent.
During the pre-sentence investigation Stewart admitted to additional behaviors, including exposing himself to females and sexually assaulting other victims. Victims were of both sexes and ranged in age from 1 year to adult.
Stewart has recently completed a sex offender treatment program. Stewart has been classified as a Level 3 Sexual Offender. Level 3 offenders are offenders whose risk assessment indicates a high risk of re-offending within the community at large.
Stewart is required to register with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office with his current address. He is required to immediately report any changes of his residence address. He will be contacted quarterly to verify his residence. Stewart will reside in the 400 block of Tarte Road on San Juan Island.
Sex offenders have always lived in our communities; but it was not until passage of the Community Protection Act of 1990 (which mandates Sex Offender Registration) that law enforcement even knew where they were living. In many cases, law enforcement is now able to share that information with the public.
Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated. Further, such abuses could potentially end law enforcement’s ability to do community notifications. We believe the only person who wins if community notification ends is the sex offender, since sex offenders derive their power through secrecy.
As of the date of this bulletin (February 20, 2013), there are over 20,654 Sex Offenders registered as required in Washington. Less than 35 of these offenders live in San Juan County.
RELATED STORIES posted in 2011
DOC Denies Sex Offender’s Request to Move to San Juan County (March 16, 2011)
"99% certain" sex offender not to be allowed to move to SJI (March 15, 2011)
Letter from David Stewart's wife and response to letter (March 10, 2011)
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