Lynnfield-Based Group Seeking Stronger Sex Offender Laws

Joseph DiPietro, founder and president of ProtectMassChildren.org, is a leading force behind a movement for stronger sentencing for first time child sex offenders, and a guarantee of life without parole for repeat offenders.

DiPietro established ProtectMassChildren.org in Lynnfield in Febraury 2009 and accrued a group of 11 dedicated board members and dozens of other grassroots supporters, the majority of which have been victims of child abuse.

“I just heard story after story of abuse and saw pedophiles were getting out of jail an average of three to five years per sentence,” explained DiPietro on why the website and movement started. “A majority of Level 3 offenders [those that specifically abuse children] were getting out and re-offending.”

DiPietro hopes to make Massachusetts law more akin to the Jessica Lunsford Act adopted by Florida in 2005. Jessica's Law, as it is commonly known, holds a mandatory, minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and lifetime electronic monitoring of those convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against a victim less than 12 years of age. Jessica's Law was even brought to the federal level in 2005, but was shot down in Congress. Since Jessica's Law went on the books in Florida, 42 states have enacted similar legislation.

“There are drug offenders and other non-violent offenders over-crowding our prisons and then they're letting Level 3's out, it doesn't make any sense,” said DiPietro making a case for new legislation.

DiPietro and ProtectMassChildren.org have already made moves on the legislative level by getting the State Senate minority leader, Republican Bruce Tarr, to sponsor Bill S884 that would increase the minimum sentence for first time child abuse offenders and increase the duration for repeat offenders. The group has  also approached State Rep. Donald Wong about filing similar legislation.

When asked why he thought the laws need changing concerning repeat offenders, DiPietro stated: “Re-offenders have a higher chance of re-offending again. They are in prison with other sex offenders and learn more about being a criminal and they just don't stop.”

To support their efforts, DiPietro and ProtectMassChildren.org are going to be raffling off a 1966 Ford Mustang at a September 17th Motorcycle Run out of the Harley Davidson dealership in Everett. This event will be just ten days before the first of the bills DiPietro and ProtectMassChildren.org support go before committee.

The September 17 Motorcycle Run will feature refreshments, a comedy show, music by Ernie and the Automatics, and the selection of the '66 Mustang by 2011 Miss Massachusetts winner, Alida D'Angona.

Profits from the raffle will go to bolster three programs DiPietro and ProtectMassChildren.org are currently organizing. The first is a predator watch group, with a website, for Lynn and Lynnfield to raise awareness of past sexual abusers in the area. The second is an education program geared towards instructing parents, teachers and children on the signs of abuse and how to report it. Lastly, funds from the raffle will go toward a court watch program that will monitor and post results on a website detailing sex offender court cases and sentencing.

Raffle tickets can be purchased at this link. Raffle tickets can also be purchased in person at the North Andover Silverstone Motor Sports classic car dealership located on 2350 Turnpike Street. The mint condition, original Mustang is valued at $48,200.

According to the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board there are approximately 10,700 registered sex offenders currently living in Massachusetts.

(Editor's note: A look on the state registry website turns up zero level 3 offenders currently living in Lynnfield.)