Five sex offenders found in Queens

As part of a review of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Sex Offender Registry, community activists have found that there are five “high- and moderate-risk” offenders living in the northeast neighborhoods of Flushing and Fresh Meadows.
Four out of the five are “Level 2” offenders - posing moderate risk - meaning that their information was not searchable through the online directory last year. In July 2006, former Governor George Pataki signed into law a bill that added “Level 2” offenders to the State directory, at https://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/search_index.htm.
Before then, concerned parents had to call the State Registry with specific information to find out if a “Level 2” sex offender was living next door. The call-in system to the Registry’s hotline - 1-800-262-3257 - is still in place for “Level 1” or low-risk sex offenders, and callers need to know the name of the offender and one of the following: an exact address, a complete date of birth, a driver’s license number, or a social security number, according to the Registry’s website.
Law enforcement agencies are allowed to release information to the community about “Level 1” offenders.
Community leaders in zip codes 11365, 11366, and 11367 were made aware of a number of sexual predators through a newsletter released by Congressmember Anthony Weiner, who recently reviewed the online directory and found that the majority of sex offenders citywide live within five blocks of a school. Weiner along with Congressmember Edolphus Towns proposed a six-point plan to track sex offenders.
“The Registry makes people aware, but as the disclaimer says on the Registry, the information is not for anyone to be malicious against any else,” said Mike Sidell, a member of Community Board 8, which represents the area.
Now local parents could look up information about, addresses for, and photos of Fresh Meadows resident Glen Elfe and Flushing residents Eugene Watson, Anthony LaRocco and Juan Munoz. The current address listed for Elfe is in the same building as the Queens Child Guidance Center, a children’s mental health facility.
The Registry also has information for Leon Wilson, a sexually violent offender in Flushing whose four female victims range in age from six to ten-years-old.