CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Department of Public Safety said it's looking into alternative housing options for registered sex offenders who are currently living in a group home in an east Charlotte neighborhood. This comes after the arrest of one of the residents.
James Sackett, 51, was arrested and charged Friday for being a sex offender who was unlawfully on the premises of a school.
Investigators said an employee at Hickory Grove Preschool and Daycare saw Sackett standing near the playground Monday. The employee recognized Sackett and reported the incident to police.
Sackett, who was just released from prison in December 2014, is one of six registered sex offenders the state helped place in the group home on McAlpine Lane.
The home was approved in early December as part of a transitional-housing program to get registered sex offenders out of shelters and off the streets.
Neighbors are against the house, and expressed their concern to state officials and representatives during a community meeting Thursday.
News of Sackett's arrest Friday sparked more outrage among residents.
"We told them this was going to happen and it did," said Victoria Golba, who lives two houses down from the group home.
Neighbors were pleased to learn the remaining five registered sex offenders may have to move out of the home.
"We're happy but now curious about what this means for the house itself," said Jason Blachard, who also lives just two houses away from the group home.
Read our past coverage:
- Neighbors meet with state rep over sex offender home
- Neighbors try to kick out group home for sex offenders
- Neighbors upset about halfway house for sex offenders
- CMPD: Sex offender from group home caught on preschool grounds
The fate of the group home remains unclear.
NPS paid an organization to run the home. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office approved it and the city provided a group home permit for the house.
Residents are now reaching out to state and local legislators for support.
State Rep. Rodney Moore attended Thursday's meeting and is expected to tour the neighborhood next week.
Sackett remains in the Mecklenburg County Jail. Officials said his post-supervised release could be revoked as result of his arrest.
WSOC
