State has 30 days to place sex offender in Racine County
RACINE (WITI) -- It is back to the drawing board for state officials who must place a sex offender back in the Racine community. Earlier this month, it was reported the state was originally going to place the sex offender in a home not far from his victim. Once this was brought to light, officials determined this sex offender could not be released into this neighborhood, and a judge gave the state 30 days to come up with another plan.
The judge who originally approved placement for 44-year-old Michael Fink said he had no idea Fink's victim lived near the home where Fink was to be placed.
Fink wants out of the Sand Ridge treatment facility where he has lived for the past 14 years, after he was committed as a sexually violent person.
The state determined after therapy, Fink is able to be released and supervised.
When the Department of Health Services found a home in Racine, no one realized one of Fink's three victims lives around the corner.
The house the state leased for Fink is in Alderwoman Molly Hall's district. Hall says the whole mess up is making her consider drafting an ordinance keeping offenders like Fink out of Racine.
"I was really appalled. It's worth getting community interest and attention on this issue and for no other reason it might serve that purpose," Hall said.
In court, the judge and state officials called the placement regrettable. An assistant attorney general said he would look into how it was made in the first place. The state told the court the victim's information wasn't in the database.
That victim discovered her new neighbor was to be her attacker, and spoke with FOX6 News last week, saying she was shocked and horrified, and worried for her safety, and the safety of her 14-year-old daughter.
Even Fink himself, who participated in the court hearing via telephone said the placement near his victim was not a good idea.
Within 30 days, Fink will be placed somewhere in Racine County.
"You have to place people who shouldn't be held any longer, and as the judge indicated, Mr. Fink has met the criteria for release. He's going to have to be released and he should be released," Fink's lawyer, Bob Peterson said.
Everyone will reconvene on February 14th to come up with a new community placement for Fink.
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