19 Sex Offenders Given 1 Month To Leave Wayside Cross: Cops

AURORA, IL — 19 men who are registered sex offenders living at Wayside Cross Ministries have been given roughly a month to find a new place to live. The men must leave the group home by Jan. 15 because police have ruled it is too close to nearby McCarty Park.

Per Illinois law, sex offenders are prohibited from residing within 500 feet of a playground. Previously. McCarty Park was not classified as a playground, but police say Kane County State's Attorney's Office ruled that the park is, in fact, a playground.

The registered sex offenders received a similar eviction notice in July, but the city appeared to stop pursuing the eviction. The issue was then addressed again by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. If the men do not relocate by Jan. 15, they may be subject to prosecution.

Read the full statement from Aurora Police Department below:

"This week, the Aurora Police Department learned that the Kane County State's Attorney's Office concurred with its previous determination that McCarty Park is a playground within the meaning of Illinois law and that the property constituting Wayside Cross Ministries is located within 500 feet of that playground. Illinois law prohibits child sex offenders from residing within 500 feet of a playground. Illinois law requires sex offenders to register their residential address with their local police department, but there is no legal authority for the Aurora Police Department to register child sex offenders at locations where the law does not permit them reside.

This morning, the Aurora Police Department notified the 19 child sex offenders who currently reside at Wayside Cross that they must relocate to a compliant residence by January 15th, 2020. After that time, the police department will notify the State's Attorney, who may, upon investigation, authorize the prosecution of any child sex offender who is residing at Wayside Cross."