Judges Denies Lakewood's Request To Stop Sex Offender Relocation

LAKEWOOD, WA - A Pierce County judge has denied Lakewood's request to stop the transfer of three sex offenders from McNeil Island to a private residential adult treatment house in the city.

On Friday, Lakewood officials asked Pierce County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Martin to stop the transfer. Although Martin denied that request, the city's is still engaged in a lawsuit against the state to stop the transfer of sex offenders from facilities like Western State into residential treatment facilities.

Lakewood filed the suit in May and at the same time enacted a moratorium on residential facilities in the city that would house offenders.

The issue came to a head last September when the state prepared to release accused killer Lawrence David Butterfield from Western State into a residential facility in Lakewood. Butterfield's release was ultimately postponed.

Western State, meanwhile, recently failed a federal inspection, meaning the facility will no longer be eligible for an annual $53 million in federal funds. Gov. Jay Inslee is pushing a plan to house lower level offenders in the communities where they live rather than at Western State.

About 30 percent of Pierce County's residential adult treatment facilities are located in Lakewood.

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