Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 13, 1993 TAG: 9307130241
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LYNNWOOD, WASH. LENGTH: Medium
The arson a few hours earlier capped a long weekend that included leafleting, picketing, a rally and much anger. The target: a man sheriff's officers called "an extremely dangerous untreated sex offender" who was about to be released into the quiet suburban neighborhood north of Seattle.
Standing by the side of Manor Road, toddlers circling their knees, residents from up and down the street tried to sort out some feelings.
"I'm not saying any crime was right," said Kevin McMahon. But he also said the fire "makes a statement."
"There's a lot of mothers going down the road with smiles on their faces," he said.
"I don't think anybody is real sorry about this," said Darryl Fritz. "But on the other hand, I would have preferred they not burn the house down."
Joseph P. Gallardo, 35, was released Monday from state prison after serving 18 months of a four-year sentence for first-degree statutory rape of a 10-year-old girl.
State law allows law enforcement agencies to notify people when sex offenders are to be released in their area, and last week the Snohomish County sheriff's office distributed fliers warning that Gallardo had a "very high probability for re-offense."
The fliers said Gallardo "has sadistic and deviant sexual fantasies which include torture, sexual assault, human sacrifice, bondage and the murder of young children."
That was too much for many residents, whose modest homes are scattered in this peaceful, wooded enclave.
Fritz and Brian Levesque organized a Sunday rally that included child psychologists and state representatives as speakers. It drew at least 300 people.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.