FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A convicted sex offender sat in the Fresno City Hall Council Chambers on Thursday as school children were present, and now, councilmembers are trying to prevent it from happening again.<\/p>\n
“I don’t give a damn about sex offenders or their rights,” councilmember Mike Karbassi said. “I want to be real clear about that.”<\/p>\n
The City Council voted during the meeting to support a state bill to bar registered sex offenders from holding public office.<\/a><\/p>\n Councilmember Nick Richardson took it a step further, asking if they should be allowed inside City Hall at all.<\/p>\n “If this is designated a place frequented by minors … then that’s incumbent on us as a council to take responsibility for the building and the safety of the people in it,” Richardson told Action News.<\/p>\n The decision follows registered sex offender Rene Campos’ attempt to run for Fresno City Council.<\/a><\/p>\n Campos was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material in 2018. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge.<\/p>\n On Thursday, he spoke before the chamber.<\/p>\n “I’m not here as a candidate,” Campos said. “I’m here as a voter.”<\/p>\n Campos, who never got enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, told the council that their actions are about control.<\/p>\n “You are enhancing safety?” Campos asked. “You’re not. You are redefining access, and the public can see the difference.”<\/p>\n The state bill still needs to become law, and a judge would have to weigh in; however, Richardson is already considering possible enforcement.<\/p>\n “We’re strictly giving direction to the City Attorney’s office to look into the legality and constitutionality of what measures we can take to include something that is facial recognition at entrance[s],” Richardson said.<\/p>\n That suggestion comes amid growing concern over camera systems tracking parking lots and intersections.<\/p>\n “This means AI can follow you around the city,” said one resident. “It can follow me. They can follow you. It’s like having a private investigator walking two or three steps behind you, making notes on everything you do.”<\/p>\n In turn, Richardson pointed out that the Council Chambers are already a public space, with numerous cameras.<\/p>\n “I would recommend not sitting in a room that is constantly filmed for the record for all of eternity,” he said.<\/p>\n For news updates, follow Gabe Ferris on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n