Parents warned of sex offender

Greg Risling and Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- School officials shifted into high gear Tuesday when

they heard of a serious sex offender living within a quarter-mile of

Lincoln Elementary School, alerting students and parents to the danger.

By the time students left Lincoln, they had a neon yellow flier in hand

and an earful of warnings about strangers.

“We did a safety drill today with Principal Munoz,” said 10-year-old

Therese Heinfeld. “They said ‘campus intruder’ over the loudspeaker, so

we went into the classroom and they made us hide under the desks.”

Fliers passed out to Lincoln students and their parents identified the

sex offender as Jay Michael Raymond. Raymond is listed as a serious sex

offender by the state’s Department of Justice. He recently moved to

Newport Beach from Riverside County.

Raymond was convicted in 1997 on charges of annoying and/or molesting a

child. Because he lives in close proximity to an elementary school, the

police used their authority given by the Megan’s Law provision to inform

school officials of his presence.

“Based on the fact there are hundreds of children in the neighborhood he

lives, we felt there was a potential risk,” said Newport Beach police

Sgt. Mike McDonough. “The residents haven’t been notified but we have

contacted the school.”

Megan’s Law requires convicted sex offenders to register with the state

and to inform police departments when they move into their respective

cities. The law also gives police agencies the discretion to inform those

who might be affected.

Raymond is listed as a serious sex offender, a middle-tiered

classification by state officials. There are no high-risk sex offenders

who live in Newport Beach, police said.

McDonough added that Raymond has informed the department he will be

moving out of his apartment this weekend. The news is somewhat of a

relief for parents and school officials, but they said their guard won’t

be let down in the interim.

“If he had already moved, then we wouldn’t send the flier out. But if we

know someone will be there a week -- we’d send it out,” said Supt. Robert

Barbot. “Our response is they can do a lot of damage in two weeks.”

Students at Lincoln received a notice from the school district Tuesday

and will have a police flier to take home today.

“Safety and academics are our top two priorities,” said Rosemary Munoz,

principal at Lincoln. “‘We are heightening our normal safety procedures

and maintaining drills, perpetually reminding students [of safety

procedures].”

As students streamed out of school Tuesday, they were well versed in what

to do.

“We go in partners to the bathroom -- everywhere,” said 11-year-old

Celline Fhima. “If you see anyone, you go to the front office. After

school, we all stick together.”

Students who attend Andersen Elementary School and live in the area near

Raymond will also receive notice, Barbot said.