Candidate hopeful Rene Campos, a registered sex offender who was convicted of possession of child sex abuse material in 2018, finds himself at the center of yet another legislative push for stricter laws.
Tuesday, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria of Merced introduced a bill that would block registered sex offenders from running or holding any local or state public office.
“It was very disturbing to hear the news that we would have in the City of Fresno, the fifth largest city in the State of California, have a sex offender, a registered sex offender, serve in the city council,” says Assemblywoman Soria.
Currently, state law does not prohibit registrants from running for council. But, State Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria announced AB 2753, a law that would bar registered sex offenders from running for or holding any local or state office.
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“I don’t think that it gets any more egregious when you’re convicted of a sex crime dealing with kids. I believe that we should have zero tolerance when it comes to protecting our children,” says Assemblywoman Soria.
Soria tells Action News her proposal has already gained bipartisan support.
One non-profit, The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, is calling the move unconstitutional.
“A lot of laws get introduced that are based on misinformation, not the facts. This appears to be another one of those laws,” says Janice Bellucci, Executive Director, ACSOL.
We spoke with Janice Bellucci, a lawyer and the executive director of the alliance. She says she’s filed at least 100 lawsuits challenging laws against sex offenders, including one recently in Fresno County.
Now, she’s threatening to file new lawsuits on behalf of Campos against the city and state.
“Most people who have been convicted of a sex offense are, in fact, at least there’s a possibility of rehabilitation because they are required to go to counseling. Most people on the registry have completed treatment and are, in fact, safe to reenter society,” says Bellucci.
This comes as uproar continues after Campos held a press conference in front of a St. John’s Catholic Church just across from Big Picture Academy charter school, while children were present.
RELATED: Fresno school reacts to registered sex-offender Rene Campos hosting press conference near campus
The Diocese of Fresno, in a statement, says it strongly condemned Campos’ decision to “irresponsibly choose the location,” using it “as a prop in his theater of politics.”
The school alleges Campos was “absolutely” in violation of the law and says they are “actively pursuing every legal measure.”
As of Tuesday evening, Campos has not officially filed to have his name on the ballot. He has until this Friday to do so.
Soria says her law still needs to go through the assembly and senate before it makes its way to the governor’s desk for signature.
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