Story Published:
Oct 27, 2009 at 7:03 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Oct 28, 2009 at 11:58 AM EDT
APPLING, Ga. - A sex offender could be living near your child, legally.
There are 58 registered sex offenders in Columbia County. Nearly a dozen of those could be living near your child.
That’s because of a Georgia law that allows registered sex offenders to live in a home they own that's within 1,000 feet of a place where children gather.
"I get frantic calls from people saying I have a sex offender living in my neighborhood and I have to explain the law to them," said investigator David Rush with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Rush is talking about an exemption that gives some leniency to registered sex offenders and where they live.
"If a sex offender owns a home prior to July 1, 2006, and their name is on the title to the land, they are exempt from the 1,000 foot rule,” said Rush.
That means those sex offenders can live within 1,000 feet of a school, church or anywhere children congregate.
Edward Ferrang is one of those registered sex offenders.
Ferrang was arrested Oct. 1, 2007, and sentenced to three years probation for aggravated sexual battery and child molestation.
"Because Mr. Ferrang bought his home in 1998, his name is on the lease, so he falls under that exemption," said Rush.
Two weeks ago, Ferrang was arrested again, charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
"We received a tip that he had child porn on his computer. We executed a search warrant and found numerous photographs and videos of children on his computer," said Rush.
Parents we spoke with in Ferrang's neighborhood were furious.
"I think that's crazy. There are kids who live up the street, across from his house. I mean it's dangerous," said neighbor Dedee Wilson.
But investigators say the law is the law and Ferrang doesn't have to move even if he's convicted on these new charges.
"What they have to understand is we can only enforce as it is interpreted by the courts,” said Rush.
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