Results by Google
Home News 

Story

Sex Offender Putting City's New Ordinance To The Test

Posted: 4:20 pm EDT August 26, 2005Updated: 5:34 pm EDT August 26, 2005

A Mt. Dora man may turn out to be the test case for Central Florida's sex offender ordinances. He was arrested on Thursday for moving too close to a school bus stop. Neighbors on Amherst Lane alerted police to the situation.

Shane Vermeulen
Shane Vermeulen is really in a bind. According to the city ordinance, he can't live in his home and he can't move until probation approves a new residence for him. His attorney is trying to get him some temporary housing until there's a resolution in court.

SEX OFFENDER SEARCH
"I'm going to let my attorney do the talking," Vermeulen said.

When Channel 9 caught up with Vermeulen at his home in the Village Grove subdivision Friday, he was hesitant to speak.

Mt. Dora police said, technically, he was also in violation of the city's sex offender's ordinance, which says, among other things, that a sex offender convicted of a crime on a minor can't live within 2,500- feet of a school bus stop.

Vermeulen moved in just a week after the ordinance was passed and, on Thursday, he was arrested for violating it.

Back in December, Vermeulen pleaded no contest to 36 counts of possession of child pornography. He's currently on probation.

"I talked with my probation officer because they arrested me and he said I didn't violate probation," Vermeulen said.

"I'm going to follow up with his probation and parole supervisor to see what they know about our ordinance. If there's an issue, we'll take it up with their management staff," said Chief Randall Scoggins, Mt. Dora Police Department.

Chief Scoggins said Vermeulen did clear his move with probation and registered as a sex offender. Probation approved the move in June, before the ordinance took effect.

Police said they were made aware of Vermeulen's move by residents who complained to city councilman Christopher Shipley. Shipley lives a couple of doors down from Vermeulen and also was the attorney for Vermeulen's parent's when they purchased the home back in July.

Off camera, Shipley, who supported Mt. Dora's ordinance, said he had no idea a registered sex offender would be moving into the neighborhood.

Vermeulen's attorney said he isn't even sure Mt. Dora's ordinance applies to pornography and, even if it does, he said the law may not be constitutional.

Vermeulen's attorney said his client would plead not guilty to violating the ordinance. Meanwhile, the probation department that approved the move must check with a judge to see if they must now file a violation of probation.

More Headlines

County-By-County News

Strange News Photos

From brilliant to bizarre, our 99-photo slideshow captures a variety of strange news. Photos are added often. Take A Look!

Get Hyper-Local On WFTV.com

Visit our County-By-County section for the latest news headlines out of your county. » County-By-County

When you take videos or photos of Central Florida news or weather events, iWitness is your place to upload them. » iWitness

Visit your headquarters for county-by-county news and resources, and a place to share community videos and photos. » 9Central

Follow WFTV On Twitter

Want to know about the latest breaking news or "can't miss" stories? Then sign up to follow us on Twitter. Learn more here!
Facebook: Be Our Fan!
MySpace: Be Our Friend