A convicted sexual predator was supposed to be monitored, but Channel 9's Tim Barber learned that he hung around kids, dozens of times. Now the Florida Department of Corrections is investigating.
Nijhir Lomax was convicted of sexually battering two children last year and put on GPS monitoring.
Channel 9's Tim Barber reported last month that a monitor recorded Lomax visiting Fort Mellon Park in Sanford several times before he was arrested again.
On Wednesday Barber learned that Lomax had visited the park 42 times since January.
Florida Rep. Jason Brodeur lives near the park where records show Lomax was spending time.
"That is not tolerable. It is not something that we are going to put up with in the state of Florida," said Brodeur.
Brodeur said he learned that the Florida Department of Corrections launched an internal investigation, even though officials told Barber that the probation officer monitoring Lomax followed procedure.
Barber learned that earlier this month,
Barber found records showing that Lomax's first visit to Fort Mellon Park was Jan. 16, and by summer Lomax was making weekly visits to the park, sometimes spending hours at a time there.
Lomax was arrested and held without bond after prosecutor Lisa Haba learned that Lomax had never had a state-required hearing to decide if he is a danger to the public.
"The defendant walked through the gallery and I was very surprised to see that, considering he is facing a life felony with exposure to life in prison for that violation," said Haba.
Lomax has a court hearing scheduled for October.
Nijhir Lomax was convicted of sexually battering two children last year and put on GPS monitoring.
Channel 9's Tim Barber reported last month that a monitor recorded Lomax visiting Fort Mellon Park in Sanford several times before he was arrested again.
On Wednesday Barber learned that Lomax had visited the park 42 times since January.
Florida Rep. Jason Brodeur lives near the park where records show Lomax was spending time.
"That is not tolerable. It is not something that we are going to put up with in the state of Florida," said Brodeur.
Brodeur said he learned that the Florida Department of Corrections launched an internal investigation, even though officials told Barber that the probation officer monitoring Lomax followed procedure.
Barber learned that earlier this month,
Barber found records showing that Lomax's first visit to Fort Mellon Park was Jan. 16, and by summer Lomax was making weekly visits to the park, sometimes spending hours at a time there.
Lomax was arrested and held without bond after prosecutor Lisa Haba learned that Lomax had never had a state-required hearing to decide if he is a danger to the public.
"The defendant walked through the gallery and I was very surprised to see that, considering he is facing a life felony with exposure to life in prison for that violation," said Haba.
Lomax has a court hearing scheduled for October.
SANFORD, Fla. — Previous report: Records: Sex predator found at Sanford park had string of other probation violations
WFTV
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