APOPKA, Fla. — Some Apopka residents worry they could soon be living next to dozens of sex offenders.
The owner of an existing sex offender village just bought another property with 37 units.
The mobile home park sits close to neighboring homes with families.
Each of the mobile homes is numbered: 1 through 37.
Each could become a new home to a sex offender.
"We were told they were going to have nothing but sex offenders back there," Bonnie McCleod said.
"Very, very, very scared about it," neighbor Margaret Holman said.
The owner of Overland Village Park, in the Lockhart section of Orange County, knows a thing or two about housing sex offenders.
Village, along Orange Blossom Trail, where more than a hundred offenders rent homes.
She said she bought Overland Village Park a few months ago.
County records show it went for around a half-million dollars.
A sign has been placed over the old name showing the owner has new plans for the park.
Neighbors just got wind of the new plans.
"I got the one neighbor on the next street. She walks her daughter over to play now," McCleod said.
Others said they are prepared, if and when offenders move in.
"I've also let them know that my firearm will reach from my property to theirs," said a neighbor who did not want to be identified.
The owner said it's not just for offenders: anyone's allowed to move in.
State law prohibits an offender on probation from living within a thousand 1,000 feet of a place where children congregate congregate, like a school, daycare, day care, park or playground.
The owner declined to do an interview for this story because she fears any media attention might incite people to vandalize the property or bring violence against future residents.
She hopes to have it up and running within a year.
WFTV
