Local woman prompts sex offender bill

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- A Costa Mesa woman’s letter-writing campaign has prompted

state Sen. Ross Johnson to introduce legislation that would allow child

molesters to be placed on lifetime parole.

Under existing laws, a felony conviction and prison term comes with a

standard three-year parole sentence.

Johnson’s bill would enable parole authorities to impose parole terms up

to life for any person convicted of a sex offense against a child under

the age of 14.

“I’m really happy,” said Lynn Vogt, who implored Johnson to work for

tougher laws. “I would like to see more. It’s not enough -- I guess it’s

never going to be enough.”

Vogt’s crusade began after police showed up on her doorstep last April.

They told her that Cary Jay Smith, a registered sex offender, had

allegedly kept a journal of his desire to rape, kidnap and kill her

7-year-old son.

Police told Vogt that Smith’s wife had found the journal entry in his car

and turned it over to his psychologist, who then went to the police.

But because Smith did not deliver the letter, police could not consider

it a threat and thus could not arrest him. After being questioned by

police, Smith was held for 72 hours. He has since been under psychiatric

care, which will continue until May, a court decided in November.

Because charges were not filed, the incident does not appear on Smith’s

record.

However, if Smith had been on parole at the time, he could have been put

back in jail, authorities said.

Vogt was seeking a more strict lifetime probation requirement as opposed

to parole, but said she is pleased nonetheless.

“I just think there’s a lot that needs to change,” she said. “Right now

the system just doesn’t work quite right -- it’s a tough crime to prove.”

By placing offenders on lifetime parole, Johnson hopes to extend their

pattern of good behavior reported during parole that often ends when

parole ends, said Bob Taylor, Johnson’s spokesman.

“He knows too well that there are repeat offenders and that this is a way

to tighten that up a bit,” Taylor said.

Lifetime parole or lifetime supervision laws have been enacted in several

states, including Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,

Utah and Wisconsin.

The bill will now go to the Senate Public Safety Committee for review.

Vogt is asking for help once again. This time, she is looking for

residents to help distribute letters to the committee to show support.

“It’s still just the beginning. There’s a long way to go,” Vogt said.

“But it’s a start.”