Sex Colonies for California? (No, Not That Kind)

Imagine a world where "wandering bands of rootless" sex offenders build their own colonies in the California desert or abandoned military bases, living in trailers they find on Craigslist.

These sex-offender islands could sprout up if voters approve Proposition 83 on the November ballot — Jessica's Law — at least according to a few interested parties who have studied the initiative.

Jenifer Warren, The Times' resident expert on crime and punishment, writes that some experts have noticed an ambiguity in Proposition 83 that could open the door to such colonies. The initiative prohibits any registered sex offender from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. But it's unclear whether it would uproot current registrants or only apply to offenders released from prison after the law is passed.

So would sex offenders have to leave heavily populated areas with lots of schools and parks, and find new homes with like-minded offenders in remote parts of the Golden State? Read Warren's story:

"Jake Goldenflame, an author who also leads support groups for sex felons, says Proposition 83 threatens to create chaos and wandering bands of rootless men by barring ex-offenders from living near schools and parks.

"In a letter mailed this week to Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer and state lawmakers, he suggested creating a refuge for sex offenders, perhaps at a former military base. He also asked that the Legislature delay enforcement of the initiative — which enjoys a strong lead in the polls — until such a colony could be established.

"'It's very likely that this measure will pass, and when it does, sex offenders will face desperation,' said Goldenflame, 69, who served a five-year prison term in the 1980s for molesting his daughter. 'Most of those facing banishment will either go underground or go homeless. I'm trying to offer a humane alternative.'"

Even the initiative's co-author, state Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster) is open to the idea of the colonies. (Photo of Runner with Senate GOP leader Dick Ackerman, left.) Runner told Warren: "If someone on their own wants to build a place for sex offenders to go live…then have at it. But this idea is based on a faulty assumption that everybody will have to move. We don't think government can go in and kick someone out of his house."

After her story ran, Warren received an e-mail from a Richard Roehm, CEO of the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center, who wants to be helpful:

"I have a 20-acre desert lot I can pack with trailers for these people. The trailers usually can be found free on the Craigslist. It'd benefit the property as they'd farm on it and improve the lot by cutting roads and laying water and sewer lines. I would charge little as $10 a week to help raise funds for the property improvements.

"The society will benefit from these types of colonies by knowing that the sex offenders are self-sustaining themselves away from the big cities. And there's no real reason for them to come to the bigger cities where vulnerable people live in."

It's a brave new world.

(Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / AP)