Tracking down a convicted sex offender

(3/16/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Under Texas law, convicted sex offenders have to register in the counties where they live. But we've learned while they may register there, they're not always living where they should be.

A bill is now being considered in the Texas Legislature that, if approved, would require registered sex offenders to wear GPS trackers. That's because there are so many sex offenders and so few law enforcement officers to verify their addresses.

Today at 249 and Beltway 8, we found a registered sex offender convicted of attempted sexual assault, who is a county away from where he says he lives.

This is Justin Keith Gilmore as he appears on the DPS sex offender web site. His registered address is in Needville in Fort Bend County.

We found him relaxing today miles from there.

We wanted to know why he left Fort bend County to live beneath the bridge off The North Beltway. Where he and others who stay there, hold up signs asking drivers for spare change.

When confronted on camera about whether he had reregistered with the state after seven days, Gilmore said, "I have been here, I have registerd. I still live with my mom right now, I'm just visiting a friend of mine. I appreciate you leaving me alone!"

"You'd probably be shocked by how many people actually register as homeless and actually register to a false address and presumably like this individual here, is actually homeless, but not registered," said crime victim advocate Andy Kahan.

Kahan says that at least 20% of sex offenders in Harris County fail to register at all. Then there is the matter of addresses that cannot be verified. A few examples are PO boxes and zip codes that don't exist. Nationally, Kahan estimates a 100,000 sex offenders are not in compliance.

"So realistically you are looking at a national public safety health crisis," the crime advocate said.

And back to Justin Gilmore. He is a long way from Fort Bend County.

"I just got kicked out of my girl's house recently," he told us. "I'm going to say it again, get out of my face!"

Gilmore later told us he was taking a bus to Houston Friday night and from there he was going home to Needville. He says he is in full compliance with his requirement to register.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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