- Bibb County School Superintendent Duane McGee issued a press release regarding this incident (quoted in part):
- While schools of the Bibb County School District welcome parents and community members into our schools, we want to ask that everyone check in at the front office before going to any other part of the building.
- While simply being a registered sex offender does not automatically prohibit a person from ever visiting a school or attending a school event, the person does have to notify law enforcement and the school of his or her intended presence. Failure to notify the school of an impending presence is punishable by imprisonment or fine, or both, and similar to failure to register residency.
- The incident at Brent School last week has certainly brought up questions regarding sexual predator registration, recognition, and cooperation with local law enforcement. Again, the Bibb County School District welcomes parents and community members into our schools, but we want to ask that everyone check in at the front office before going to any other part of the building.
A 45 year old prison parolee entered Brent Elementary School on more than one occasion last week without notifying school officials or police authorities. Gary Bennett, a registered sex offender, has now been arrested and charged with criminal trespassing according to Brent Police Chief Terry Nichols.
Chief Nichols said Bennett did not violate the restrictions placed upon him as a result of his parole or prison release conditions, however, he did violate the Bibb County school policies for entering school property without permission.
Nichols stated that he and court officials have been working with mental health officials (Indian Rivers-Northport) to find a placement in the MH system for Bennett for the past three weeks. Bennett has been arrested on previous trespassing offenses and will probably remain in jail until the mental health system can place him but any placement will probably be temporary.
Bibb County School Superintendent Duane McGee issued a press release regarding this incident (quoted in part):
While schools of the Bibb County School District welcome parents and community members into our schools, we want to ask that everyone check in at the front office before going to any other part of the building.
While simply being a registered sex offender does not automatically prohibit a person from ever visiting a school or attending a school event, the person does have to notify law enforcement and the school of his or her intended presence. Failure to notify the school of an impending presence is punishable by imprisonment or fine, or both, and similar to failure to register residency.
The incident at Brent School last week has certainly brought up questions regarding sexual predator registration, recognition, and cooperation with local law enforcement. Again, the Bibb County School District welcomes parents and community members into our schools, but we want to ask that everyone check in at the front office before going to any other part of the building.
PLEASE REMIND ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU MUST CHECK IN AT THE OFFICE OF A SCHOOL BEFORE ENTERING ANY OTHER PART OF A SCHOOL BUILDING OR SCHOOL PROPERTY. DON’T RISK BEING TREATED AS A TRESPASSER BY SCHOOL OFFICIALS.
