CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A single-family house in an east Charlotte neighborhood was recently approved to be a group home for six sex offenders and neighbors are upset they were never told about it.
It's part of a transitional-housing program to get them out of shelters and off the streets and it may be expanding in Charlotte and other cities across the state.
Six sex offenders moved into a home three weeks ago on McAlpine Lane at the end of a cul-de-sac in the middle of a neighborhood with single family homes.
The resident are convicted of charges including rape, kidnapping, exploitation of a minor and indecent liberties with a child.
"None of the kids come down here and play anymore," said Victoria Golba who lives two houses down from the home.
Channel 9 learned the Bradley-Reid Corporation bought the house from the previous homeowner who the CEO said is a volunteer with the Bradley-Reid Corporation. It offers housing and re-entry services for veterans and this is its first group home for sex offenders.
The program is under the Department of Public Safety to provide temporary housing for sex offenders still on probation.
"The residents can be offenders who have been released from prison and are serving post-release supervision or who are on probation and have exhausted all other housing options and would otherwise be homeless," a DPS spokesperson wrote in an email to Channel 9.
Neighbor Michael Layman said residents received no notice this was happening.
"That was a real shock and kind of a kick in the gut," said Layman.
The house received a zoning-use permit to become a group home from the city of Charlotte's planning department.
The prescribed condition is that new group homes be separated from existing homes by 800 feet.
"The location of the transitional home meets the state's legal requirements for sex offender housing and was approved by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Department Sex Offender Registry Unit," said a DPS spokesperson.
The DPS believes this type of housing is better than having sex offenders wander the streets.
"We believe in second chances absolutely. The problem that we have with it is that there are so many," said Golba. "How did this happen to a neighborhood like this? And if it happened to ours then it could happen to someone else's."
DPS pointed out 117 sex offenders live within 3 miles of the home.
The house is supposed to have 24 hours supervision and had to be inspected by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. Residents are also subject to curfew and regular drug and alcohol screening.
Channel 9 was told two other homes could be opening this spring in other parts of the Charlotte and facilitators are not obligated to notify residents about the move.
WSOC
