City, Council field concerned citizens

 PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – A sex offender recently released from prison has raised concerns throughout the community, with a number of calls and complaints being received by city officials over the last couple weeks.
    On Feb. 15, Det. William Scull, of the Presque Isle Police Department, went around to homes and businesses in the neighborhood of 227 State Street, distributing information advising people that Ronald Leno, 57, had recently been released after serving several years in prison for assault and rape.
According to Chief Naldo Gagnon, of the PIPD, Leno should be considered a “high risk” individual, due to the nature of the crimes he has committed. Earlier reports of that fact has created an increased concern over safety, especially among younger women.
“Leno’s victims were all younger women – college-age women,” said Gagnon. “Yes, he’s a sex offender and on the registry but he’s not a pedophile.”
Gagnon said his department has received numerous calls, mostly complaints about Leno’s living so close to the library and churches on State Street. People have wanted the police to find a way to get Leno moved to either another area of town or out of town entirely. But Gagnon said until Leno commits another crime, his hands are tied from a legal perspective.
“Unless Leno commits another crime, there’s nothing the police can do. He hasn’t broken any laws in our city,” said Gagnon.
Members of City Council heard such concerns at Monday night’s Council meeting. Robin Sawyer, a concerned citizen, took a moment during the citizens’ comment portion of the meeting to express her feelings on the matter.
“I’m a resident of Presque Isle and the mother of two teenage daughters and a son. I’m concerned about the sex offender and what can be done to send him elsewhere,” said Sawyer.
Sawyer didn’t understand why he wasn’t still in jail.
“He lives near the State Street Baptist Church where my family attends, near the library, two schools and the post office,” said Sawyer.
City Manager Tom Stevens responded, advising Sawyer that “the individual in question has served his time in jail and is now back in society and has decide to live in our community.” Stevens added that since Leno was not on probation and had not committed any additional crimes that officials were aware of, not much could be done at this time.
In an effort to find a solution that would satisfy all parties, Stevens said the city’s solicitor, Hugo Olore, had been in contact with other communities to find out how they handled similar situations.
“I’ve made contacts and sought input and assistance to see how other areas in the U.S. are reacting to the same problem (of sex offenders being released back into society). The results so far – it’s a tough problem. Under the Constitution, once a felon has served time they have rights like anyone else under the Constitution,” said Olore.
Olore said the city was limited in what could be done legally.
“The city is looking into the matter, giving it a hard look and hopefully can come to some solution that would be satisfactory to its citizens,” said Olore.
Council Chairman Walt Elish said this was an item of interest but the Council would need more information.
“We’ve begun the discussion but need to look into what options are available to the city,” said Elish.
At least one concerned individual had questioned the possibility of having the apartment house Leno lives in condemned. Code Enforcement Officer Jerry McAvaddy said the building had passed inspection for apartment  and nothing could be done.
“We can’t just go around randomly condemning properties just to get someone to move. The building is structurally sound to serve as an apartment complex. The landlord as informed me they plan to do some upgrades in the future, including siding,” said McAvaddy.
While many have seen the negative side of having a sex offender in town, at least one business has seen a positive side to the issue, with increased sales of merchandise customers said they planned to use to protect themselves.
“The first day the article appeared in the Star-Herald, I received several calls asking if I had pepper spray in stock. I thought it was a bit unusually but hadn’t read the paper. It wasn’t until a lady stopped in asking the same question, then showed me her copy of the newspaper that I realized what was causing the sudden interest in the product,” said Ben LeBlanc, owner of Ben’s Trading Post on Main Street.
LeBlanc said he was accustomed to selling containers of the spray when campuses opened each fall, but this is the first time he’s seen such a demand.
“In the fall, I see fathers coming in to buy the spray for their daughters who are in college. But this is different. I sold out of what I had in stock and had to re-order. Out of a case of 60, this is all I have left,” said LeBlanc, as he motioned to a handful of containers hanging on the wall.
LeBlanc said it hasn’t been just pepper spray folks have been asking for.
“I’m also selling stun guns. I never carried many before. It’s something I could order but demand hadn’t been big before. Lately I’ve had several customers expressing interest and a few who’ve bought them for an added sense of security,” said LeBlanc.
But while pepper spray and stun guns can be effective methods of protection, Gagnon said they can also backfire as security measures if they wind up in the wrong hands.
“If an attacker gets them away from a victim, they can then use them on the victim. Or if a breeze is blowing, the spray can blow back on the victim. As with any method of defense, they should be used with caution and used properly,” said Gagnon.
Gagnon said there’s a possibility people may be confusing Leno with other men in the community, since he looks a bit different than the picture released earlier.
“He doesn’t look exactly like the photo we released. We’re in the process of trying to get an updated photo and will release that to the public when we have one,” said Gagnon. “It’s possible folks have been mistaking other individuals for Leno.”
Gagnon wanted to remind the public that Leno has rights like anyone else and that charges can be brought against anyone found threatening or harassing Leno.
“No one has the right to harass or threaten him. Anyone found doing so could face charges,” said Gagnon.
Gagnon said Scull has already spoken to various groups, including members of the campus community here in the city, advising them about Leno and how to handle certain situations.
Gagnon had some helpful tips for the public – especially women.
“Tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to be back. Everyone should be do this to begin with. And go in pairs when possible. When heading to a parking lot, try to walk with someone else,” said Gagnon.
Anyone with questions or concerns can call PIPD at 764-4476.