FYI from SPD: Sex offender moves returns to Arbor Heights

Every so often, Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Mark Solomon sends an advisory about sex offenders moving into this area. He’s just sent this:

In an effort to keep you informed, and in our constant attempts to reduce future victimization, we want to let you know about a level 3 sex offender that moved into Southwest Precinct neighborhoods in recent weeks.

· Daniel Richard, a 59 year-old White male, is a level 3 sex offender who has recently moved to the 10400 Block of California Avenue Southwest. Mr. Richard is no longer under Department of Corrections supervision. (Editor’s note: You can see his photo and more information here.)

Detective Fields from the Seattle Police Department’s Sex Offender Detail is assigned to check on (him) and verify their information.

To learn more about offenders and to see photos, please visit the King County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender website … You will also find personal safety tips and resources on this site.

If you have further questions about this offender, contact Michelle McRae of the Seattle Police Sex Offender Detail at (206) 684-5581 or e-mail at michelle.mcrae@seattle.gov.

To register to receive an email alert whenever a published offender registers within one mile of your desired addresses, go to (this) link.

Click ahead to read general safety information that Solomon has shared with similar advisories in the past:

Level 3 sex offenders pose the highest risk to re-offend. It is normal to feel upset, angry and worried about a registered sex offender living in your community. The Community Notification Act of 1990 requires sex offenders to register in the community where they live. The law also allows local law enforcement to make the public aware about Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. Since these offenders have completed their sentences, they are free to live where they wish. Experts believe sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment. Any actions taken against the listed sex offenders could result in arrest and prosecution as it is against the law to use this information in any way to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders. The SPD Sex offender detectives will check on these offenders every 3 months to verify our information.

The single most effective means of protecting your child is communication with your child. They have to feel comfortable discussing sensitive matters with you. Teach your children that they should not be asked to touch anyone in the bathing suit areas of their body or allow anyone to touch them in those areas. Teach them types of situations to avoid. It is not good enough to tell a child to avoid strangers. Please remember that children are most often molested by someone they or their parents know.

THURSDAY UPDATE: See the comments for lots of information, including a clarification on why this notice was issued even though the offender is not new to the neighborhood. We’ve changed the headline as a result.

ocean December 9, 2014 (11:32 am)

Luckily the school a few blocks from there has been torn down. What happens when the new school is built and open for students?

w.s. maverick December 9, 2014 (12:17 pm)

why do they always have to come to west seattle

WSB December 9, 2014 (1:21 pm)

WSM, they’re in other communities too. But obviously we’re not receiving or publishing notifications for other communities.

timbuktu December 9, 2014 (12:30 pm)

Several years ago one was only two blocks away from the school. I think 2-3 blocks away is the boundary, which is insane. Hopefully that has changed to be a longer distance, but this guy is still awfully close (and close to the middle school bus stop).

anonyme December 9, 2014 (1:55 pm)

The links for viewing the statutes don’t work, but I saw nothing to suggest that the crimes were against children. Not that his presence is of no concern, but possibly for a different demographic. Another sex offender lived/lives on that same block. I don’t know if it’s the same guy back again, or if it’s a case of birds of a feather…

WSB December 9, 2014 (1:57 pm)

I tried researching this guy’s record in the statewide system, as we usually do when these types of notices come in every few months. Nothing definitive came up.

Gawdger December 9, 2014 (2:09 pm)

Those statutes appear to be from the State of Arizona. Perhaps he just moved here? Which Dept of Corrections had him last? Usually the community correction officer needs to approve their residence. This neighborhood is home to many children so I don’t understand why it would even be considered for him to live here.

AH parent December 9, 2014 (2:18 pm)

This is the same guy as before. He has lived there for years. He lives right at the northwest corner of 104th and California and drives a Honda Fit. We live just down the road.

neighbor December 9, 2014 (2:59 pm)

There was another guy registered in the same block. Are they two different guys? His picture looks different from the guy I remember. Maybe he colored his hair. Or did he reoffend since I last looked and this is his new mug shot? If it is 2 different guys are they living together? All those senerios concern me. I do know the guy who lives in that house stood in the middle of the road watching me walk down the street the other day. Not pleased.

anonyme December 9, 2014 (3:28 pm)

neighbor, I have some of the same questions. There was another guy (Level III, rape charge I believe) with a similar name and similar appearance who lived on that block. If you know that the person who watched you is the offender in question, you should call the sex offender unit. They do appreciate reports of odd behavior, even if the offender is no longer under supervision.

KM December 9, 2014 (3:37 pm)

ocean-

I think the boundary is more than one block? There were sex offenders 1.5 blocks away from the school in our neighborhood, although neither offenders had a history of crimes against children. They also lived in the same house, this could be a similar situation for those who mentioned there is already one nearby.

WSB December 9, 2014 (3:41 pm)

From multiple law-enforcement sites (I checked around before trusting my memory): “Currently in Washington State, there is no law or statute regarding where sex offenders may or may not reside; unless court-ordered restrictions exist, the offender is constitutionally free to live wherever they choose.”

JKS December 9, 2014 (4:03 pm)

King County property records show he is the homeowner of the Arbor Heights residence. And I don’t think this is new info. Before we moved into the neighborhood I did a general crime/ sex offender check. He was on the list this past summer.

WSB December 9, 2014 (4:24 pm)

Something triggered this to be sent out by Mark Solomon – these are not routine alerts – we receive them (along with whomever else is on the list) only a few times a year. But cross-referencing through Google, I see a listing for him, with a different photo but same address, dated 2012, on this scraper site:
.
http://mugshots.com/US-Counties/Washington/King-County-WA/Daniel-Brian-Richard.8316277.html
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Will ask Mark if there’s any way he can find out what triggered the new alert. – Tracy

Neighbor December 9, 2014 (6:41 pm)

AH parent, the guy on the NW corner of the intersection does not look like the mugshot. Besides, a house north of 104th would not have an address in the 10400’s. I believe too that this offender has lived on our street for years as I’ve seen this name/location on the registry before several times when I’ve searched. I’ve heard rumors it’s the cottage style house set a tad bit further back than the rest on the east side of California just south of 104th. I believe there’s a two-toned van that parks there. Not sure how valid the tip is but I’ve heard it from more than one person.

Neighbor December 9, 2014 (6:44 pm)

WSB yes the link you just shared is the picture I’ve seen on his report before. Yikes, the original picture in the article above looks more recent. Did he reoffend?

West Seattle Block Watch Captains' Network December 9, 2014 (7:16 pm)

We had Detective Fields and Detective Stevenson from the SPD Sex Offender and Kidnapping Detail give a presentation to our group in 2013. Fortunately, WSB was there to cover the meeting & videotape their presentation! I think that the detectives did a good job of explaining how they approach their work, informing us about some of the complexities of this issue, and providing some useful information to those who know that sex offenders are living in their midst. You can find WSB’s coverage here:
https://westseattleblog.com/2013/06/video-spd-sex-offenderkidnap-detectives-briefing-west-seattle-block-watch-captains-network/

– Karen

Neighbor cat December 9, 2014 (8:34 pm)

House on NW corner has a 104th street address. Not the guy or the house. Check the King County IMAP parcel search to find the correct house.

Gawdger December 9, 2014 (8:57 pm)

This is odd. Those statutes do not match Seattle, King County or the RCW. The only match I can find is the State of Arizona, and the code chapters match the crime descriptions on the KCSO website. This guy offended in AZ and was sentenced there but it is hard to tell if it was a crime against a child per the code citations. Per King County records he received the property as, “Partial Interest (love and affection, gift)” in 2011 as a Quit Claim.

Mike December 9, 2014 (11:34 pm)

More on him and his time in AZ
http://www.homefacts.com/offender-detail/AZP13737/Daniel-B-Richard.html

He kidnapped too. Greaaaaaaat.

John December 10, 2014 (6:20 am)

“Experts believe sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment.”
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Please be kind, thoughtful and neighborly.
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Everyone who has served their time, has been under supervision and attempting to live a normal life should be given a chance.
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I hazard to posit the whole reason that the Community Notification Act of 1990 passed was political and not based on clinical best practices.
If the Act were in fact viable, then by reason it would extend to schools.
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Peace, Love & Forgiveness.

T Rex December 10, 2014 (8:53 am)

“Experts believe sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment.”

Which experts have said this John?

I am not aware of very many sex offenders who have only one offense they have been charged with. At least not any of the ones I track in my area of West Seattle.

Sex offenders in my opinion do not ever get better, to me it is the worse offense any person can commit, especially if it involves a child. If one of these people move into my neighborhood, I can tell you I will not be baking them cookies welcoming them to the neighborhood.

It is certainly your right to do so, good luck with that.

WSB December 10, 2014 (9:34 am)

Just FYI, John’s quote was from the story above, in the text of the SPD e-mail (regarding “experts believe” …). Second-to-last paragraph in blue. I don’t know what experts SPD is referring to, but that is the same text they include in each of these alerts. – TR

krista December 11, 2014 (11:02 am)

I inquired with a few questions about this offender and received a phone call today from Det. Fields with some details I don’t mind sharing with y’all.

1. This person has NOT reoffended. His original offense was in 1986 in AZ and the victim was not a minor. I did not get clarification as to why there are two mugshots, obviously years apart by the looks of his age in the photos.

2. He has lived in the 10400 block of California Ave SW with family for several years but is required to report his whereabouts if he leaves for long stretches. He visits family in AZ and has recently returned after a month away, hence, the new alert to his moving back into the area.

3. He has been deligent in reporting his whereabouts and is checked in on every 3 months as previously mentioned.

Thought the very fact that a sex offender lives 1 block away from me is unsettling, I do find some ease with the knowledge that his victim was not a child and that he has not reoffened as I feared.