Moms Writing!

Here’s a story that was major national news a few weeks ago. With collapsing bridges and mines and hurricanes etc. since then though it got little attention, I think, across the nation…but not here. As you’ll see in the video here, Mr. McClellan was released from the downtown jail, a 30 minute or so highway ride from my neighborhood - already too close for comfort.

What the video doesn’t tell you is that he was picked up much closer to home…at the UCLA campus in Westwood, which is maybe a long bike ride away from us, here on the west side of Los Angeles.

I wish this were as simple an issue for me as you might expect it to be. It certainly is for my husband. It is very clear to him (my husband) where he’ll be placing Mr. McClellan’s camera… he’s notorious for taking pictures of very young girls and placing them on his web site… should Mr. McClellan decide to attempt to include our daughter on said web site. I on the other hand, have several years of law school indoctrination to inform me that so far, from what I’ve seen, and believe me I follow this story as this creep is in fact a local resident here, the legal system as it pertains to the issues at hand is operating properly.

As for the technicality that got him out, here’s some of an article in todays LA Times:

Self-proclaimed pedophile Jack McClellan was released from jail today after the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office determined that the restraining order he was allegedly arrested for violating was procedurally defective.

The court order barred McClellan from coming within 10 yards of any child in the state for three years.

Nick Velasquez, spokesman for the city attorney, said that prosecutors determined that while McClellan violated the order, the injunction itself was not lawful because it was issued for more than 22 days without a required additional hearing. He said McClellan was given no notice of the more extensive nature of the judge’s order.

“He violated the order but the court was procedurally defective so we had to dismiss the case,” Velasquez said.

Of course there is enormous debate around here about how exactly to handle this situation. There are those, like my husband, who are lighting the torches and sharpening the pitchfork as I write this. But there are more reasoned discussions taking place.

Here’s an excerpt from a recent local NPR broadcast:

All Things Considered, August 17, 2007 · Jack McClellan is a self-proclaimed pedophile who used to run a Web site offering tips on how to watch little girls. He has never been accused of, arrested for or charged with an offense against a child, even though he admits to a preference for children.

Now, McClellan has become a target of concerned parents in the Los Angeles area, prompting a judge to recently forbid him from getting near any child in the state of California.

On Monday, he got busted twice for getting too close to a child care center at UCLA.

Go Here to hear the entire broadcast report. This was from a few days ago and before todays release from jail. I’ll be following this very closely as you would imagine and you’ll undoubtedly see more about this story here on this site.

If you’re a parent you probably have an opinion you can share here…if you’re a parent here in LA….Please - join the discussion!

Let’s stay safe together.