FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Some parents are raising concerns about a sex offender living next to an elementary school in Fox Crossing.
The playground at Spring Road School is right behind Jayprakash Raval’s house. Raval is a recently registered sex offender.
Parent Michael Meacham tells FOX 11 he’s concerned.
“I don’t think it’s right that a convicted sex offender lives where his backyard is in the playground of an elementary school, I think that’s my biggest concern.”
Meacham’s daughter attends Spring Road School.
In Wisconsin, police say a sex offender can’t live within 1,500 feet of a school.
“However there is an exception to that rule if the offender already has a pre-established residency there,” explained Dan Wiechman with the Fox Crossing Police Department.
In this case, Raval had been living the home before the crime happened, meaning he is legally allowed to keep living there.
“I can’t believe there’s not any rules or laws preventing this,” said Meacham.
The Winnebago County District Attorneys office told FOX 11, Raval was first charged with having child pornography,
That charge was later lessened to “Causing a Child under 13 to View or Listen to Sexual Activity.”.
“I reached out to the superintendent of the joint school district, she responded back that unfortunately there’s not a lot they can do, I find that hard to believe, given the size of the school district,” said Meacham.
In a statement, the Neenah Joint School District said,
Safety is always the top priority for the Neenah Joint School District, but the District has no control over where people choose to live. We continue to be vigilant and protective of our children at school every day and urge our families and neighbors to do the same.
Meacham said he’s shocked at the situation and isn’t looking forward to the start of school.
“I’m not excited about sending her to that school right now because I know she plays out there three times a day, early in the morning.”
There are more than 500 registered sex offenders in Winnebago County, 30 of which are in Fox Crossing.
