Predators Using Single Moms For Access To Kids
Predators Using Single Moms For Access To Kids (WCCO) Enough sexual predators are having relationships with single mothers to gain access to children, that police are saying the trend is reaching epidemic proportions. One sexual offender, who spoke on condition of not being identified, admitted that's the process he used to offend. He requested to be referred to as "Don" in this piece. "I used the mom to trust me and like me so I could be around the children," he said. Don is a level 3 sex offender, a level designated for the most likely people to commit another sex crime. "I groomed her for about six months. I bought her everything she wanted," he said. Five years ago, Don was convicted of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old and a 13-year-old girl. "I got the mother to love me and think I was a great guy, got her to trust me because I was doing all this for her kids," he said. He then followed by sexually preying on the children. It didn't happen to single mom Katy Norenberg and her girls, but she can understand how women become victims. "You're looking for somebody who's nice and is nice to your kids, and you're going 'Yea, I found the perfect person," said Norenberg. Don said that's just what sex offenders count on. "If he's paying attention to one child more than another, or if he's paying attention to the child more than he is you ... there's something going on," he said. Police said the scenario is being played out at an alarming rate in the past few years. "Depending on whatever void has existed in the single mom's life, these guys try to fill that void in whatever way they can," said Jon Hinchliff of the Minneapolis Police Department. Don wanted to share his story to keep others from falling into that trap. "We've got to educate the mothers and we've got to educate the children at a young age what to look for," he said. "I hate myself for what I did in the past to these kids, and that hate is going to keep me from ever doing it again," he said. Don and police recommend single moms talk to their children about sexual predators and stress to them they must tell an adult about any behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable. Also they say to do a criminal background check on the Department of Corrections Web site which lists the state's registered sex offenders. http://wcco.com/local/local_story_146223047.html