TONGANOXIE, Kan. — Gerard Walker has only called a residence his home for two months and already feels unwelcome. That’s because some in the Tonganoxie neighborhood have become aware of his previous sex offense convictions.
There are feelings of “disgust” amongst some parents who have learned that at only one house away from their kid’s school, lives a registered sex offender.
“He doesn’t deserve the right. The judge or whoever allowed him to move into the area should move him into an area where there are no children,” parent Shawn Prebble said.
According to court documents, Walker was convicted in 2001 of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated criminal sodomy and rape. Some people FOX 4 talked to wondered why he didn’t pick someplace further away from a school.
When FOX 4 knocked on his dooe, Walker’s brother answered and said that that the way some neighbors are treating him is unfair.,
“When they come up here bothering him, I mean he’s got his right to be out here and smoke a cigarette,” Ernest Walker said.
A short time later Gerard Walker showed up and had this to say, “I’m just living here to be with my brother and take care of him and I just want to be left alone.”
Gerard’s brother is elderly and uses oxygen. Gerard said that’s the only reason his living there, so he can care for Ernest.
Despite him caring for a family member, some still want him out of the neighborhood. However, Walker living near the school isn’t illegal. Kansas law does not place restrictions on where registered sex offenders may live and that includes places near children