MEDINA — A man was evicted from Union Square Apartments after the Medina County Sheriff’s Office notifed management that he is a registered sex offender.
Under federal law, convicted sex offenders cannot live in Section 8 housing, such as the Union Square Apartments, which is subsidized by the government.
Robert Earl Dunn, 45, is registered as a Tier III sex offender with the sheriff’s office for a 1985 sexual assault a 16-year-old girl, according to the sheriff’s sexual offender database.
Tier III is the highest designation in the national tier system for registered offenders and requires registration with law enforcement every 90 days for life after release from prison.
Shelly McFarland, manager of Union Square Apartments, said she was unaware Dunn was residing there until she, along with every tenant in the complex, received a “neighbor notification” from the sheriff’s office on Wednesday that alerted her to Dunn’s status and address.
Although Dunn registered his address as 382 W. Union St., Apt. 3, with the sheriff’s office, his name was not on the lease, McFarland said.
“I didn’t know this gentleman,” she said, adding he was residing with the woman who rented the apartment.
“When she moved in here, he was nowhere around. I didn’t know about it until I got the notice,” McFarland said.
She said she immediately contacted Medina police, and officers escorted her to the apartment, where she told the tenant and Dunn he would have to leave immediately.
“It’s all been taken care of; he’s gone now,” McFarland said, adding Dunn left without incident.
“If he returned to the property, I would press criminal charges against him, and he would be arrested,” she said.
Police Chief Patrick Berarducci confirmed a detective assisted McFarland in removing Dunn.
“We feel strongly about quality of life there for the residents,” Berarducci said. “You have no right to live within a government subsidy if you don’t meet the criteria that Congress set forth. We intend to enforce that.”
McFarland said she runs a criminal and sex offender background check on every apartment applicant age 18 and older and on every person who intends to reside with the lessee.
She said this was the first time a sex offender was found to be residing illegally in the Union Square complex.
“(Dunn) came and explained to me that it was something that happened 25 years ago when he was 19,” McFarland said. “But you have to pay the price of what you do.”
Contact Kaitlin Bushinski at (330) 721-4050 or kbushinski@ohio.net.
Shame on everyone involved….from the policy makers, to the law enforcement personnel, to the apartment manager. Shame. Shame. Shame. Running this man off like a common leper and then justifying it as a service to mankind is absolutely appalling and sickening. Who taught you people to act in such a way? Your mothers? What harm does this man pose to others?
DO THE MATH PEOPLE. He was 20 or 21 when he had sex with a 16 year old. My husband is 7 years older than I am. Give me a break and give this man a break. This is just insane.
Tier III also means that there was 4 years age or more difference. Our lawmakers need to revisit these laws and differentiate. The media needs to educate themselves as to what tiers can mean as well.
“(Dunn) came and explained to me that it was something that happened 25 years ago when he was 19,” McFarland said. “But you have to pay the price of what you do.”
Ms. McFarland, do think that statement might apply to you someday or have you never made a mistake? Hasn’t he paid for what he did? Must he pay for this non-violent transgression his whole life?
What about the woman he was living with? What are the consequences to her?
McFarland and Beraducci can consider themselves the equal of Eugene McCarthy hunting for communists.
“(Dunn) came and explained to me that it was something that happened 25 years ago when he was 19,” McFarland said. “But you have to pay the price of what you do.”
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He was 19 she was 15. And he has to pay for what he did? I think he did 25 years ago. Like all sex offenders he is a dead man walking. Can’t even find a place to live. Those comments area disgusting commentary on America.
Isn’t it the common belief that sex offenders commit crime over and over again. Yet this guy has one conviction in his whole life from when he was a teen. Kinda blows that theory out of the water doesnt it.
Maybe he will commit another sex crime just to go to prison and have a place to live!