OKC Parents Concerned Over Sex Offender Living Close To School

Chris McKinnon, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – Parents in one Oklahoma City neighborhood are outraged that a convicted sex offender is allowed to live within 2,000 ft. of Barnes Elementary School.

It's less than .1 mile to the registered sex offender's house, now neighbors are passing out flyers trying to spread the word that he is living nearby.

It all started when one mom in the neighborhood got a notification that Stanley Dale Jones was being released back into the community after a conviction of sex assault on a child.

"It's very scary for us because he could walk right up to the fence and the teachers, if all the teachers aren't aware, then they would think it was just the grandfather, someone coming to see one of their grandkids and here he is, a convicted sex offender," said one mother who did not want to be identified.

The mother expressed outraged because Jones is living so close to her school and that is because of a loophole in the law. Police told her since Jones is a homeowner, he can break the 2,000 ft. radius.

Jerry Massey with the Department of Corrections shared another reason why Jones could be allowed to live closer to the school.

"It's my understanding that there are some District Attorneys that feel like it they lived there prior to the enactment of that statute, then it doesn't apply to them," Massey said.

"I think that he should have had to have tried to sell his home," one neighborhood mother said.

Several mothers have decided to take matters into their own hands and raise awareness in the community by handing out flyers. They don't think Jones should be allowed to live so close to the school.

Jones' lawyer spoke with News 9 on the phone and said his client was doing everything he was required to. He said Jones should not be considered a threat.

Still for this neighborhood, some of the families are not taking any risks.