CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — Two registered sex offenders living in a Cape Coral halfway house were arrested for having cell phones connected to the internet, breaking their probation.
Court documents show William Plumley was arrested in 2021 for child pornography and Enrico Mendes Jr. was convicted of molestation and child pornography charges in 2020.
Multiple devices were recovered and are being investigated. More charges could be filed.
RELATED: 2 sex offenders at Cape Coral halfway house caught with abuse material
The Lee County Property Appraiser website shows Gold Coast Investments Corporation owns the halfway house they were living in. Neighbors said there has been strange activity at the house for years.
“There was a guy from halfway house that tried to open my door, and Sunday 8 a.m. We find out later that that guy went inside a house close by, naked, fully naked. He was arrested. He went to jail for it, and there was the same guy who tried open my door at 8 a.m.,” homeowner Ricardo said.
Gold Coast Investments Corp owns a second halfway house 10 minutes away. Neighbors have taken videos showing people getting placed in handcuffs at that location and said law enforcement responds to the halfway house frequently.
“One of the guys was outside by the bus bench, shooting an imaginary gun at cars,” homeowner Alex Lopez said.
According to Florida Statute 397.487, certifying a halfway house is voluntary under state law. WINK News reached out to the Florida Association of Recovering Residents and the Department of Children and Families to see if these homes are certified.
“People deserve a second chance, but I don’t know how the city and regulation work with this. I don’t know if they have to come out with some different ideas or, or do something different,” Ricardo said.
Many homes on the street are families with children. Neighbors said knowing registered sex offenders lived there is alarming.
“Cape Coast is a place, a great place to live. It’s just things like this that make you wonder why did I move here?” Lopez said.