William J. Strube - Sex Offender - TBR 6/17/08 - WI
Sex offender moves to Allenton County sheriff says man has potential to commit crime again By DON BEHM dbehm@journalsentinel.com Posted: June 14, 2008 Addison - William J. Strube, a former West Bend man sent to prison in July 1996 for the forcible sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl, is being released Tuesday and will move to the unincorporated community of Allenton, Washington County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said. Sheriff's deputies knocked on doors of homes and apartments in eastern Allenton last weekend to notify residents of Strube's pending release from the Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution in Plymouth, Schmidt said. The state Department of Corrections found the Allenton residence for Strube, a registered sex offender, and he will be monitored by corrections agents through 2024. Strube will live in the upper apartment at 327 Main St. and will be required to wear a GPS bracelet so that his movements can be tracked, Schmidt said. He will not be allowed to visit Allenton parks or schools without prior approval from his state corrections agent. The GPS unit will trigger an alarm if he strays into unauthorized neighborhoods. Among the other restrictions: he cannot have any contact with minors unless accompanied by an adult chaperone approved by his agent; he is not permitted to use a computer; he cannot correspond with minors. Town Chairman Bob Bingen has invited state corrections officials to Thursday's Town Board meeting to discuss the restrictions. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the town hall, 127 First St. Though Strube will be living in northwestern Washington County, he will be working in Waukesha after his release from prison, a corrections department spokesman said. "Generally, the Allenton residents are unhappy that he's moving there," Schmidt said in summarizing comments received by deputies. Ron Naab, a volunteer with the local fire department, said he has asked Washington County legislators to reverse the state's decision to place Strube in Allenton. Strube's apartment is less than one block from Veteran's Memorial Park on 1st St. in Allenton, Naab said. The park and its ball diamond are a popular gathering place for children and teenagers. "We question the location of the apartment within a block of a number of young people, especially on Monday and Tuesday evenings with Allenton Youth Organization activities," Naab said. The Sheriff's Department cannot prevent Strube's move to the community, Schmidt said. Upon release from prison, state corrections policy requires registered sex offenders either to reside in the county where they lived prior to imprisonment or in the county where they committed the crime. The door-to-door notification was not intended to alarm Allenton residents but to inform them of Strube's presence in the community, Schmidt said. Bingen said there are at least five other registered sex offenders currently residing in the town. With Strube's release, town officials want to ensure that the state provides adequate safeguards for residents, Bingen said. "And we want them to be aware of the dangers," he said. "Let's teach our young children how to avoid such situations." Schmidt said in a written statement that there is a likelihood Strube will commit another sex crime based on his criminal history. On Nov. 10, 1995, Strube offered a West Bend girl a ride home so she could get out of the rain. But he drove her to a secluded area where he sexually assaulted her. When she attempted to flee, he tackled her and continued assaulting her, threatening to "snap her neck" if she did not comply. In July 1996, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison following his conviction for child enticement, second-degree forcible sexual assault and sexual contact with a child. The sentence included prison time to be served concurrently for a separate conviction of lewd and lascivious behavior. In February 1996, Strube offered a ride home to a woman after her car broke down. He performed a lewd act in front of the woman and offered her money for sex. Schmidt advised Allenton residents to call the Sheriff's Department if they observe Strube in a park, at a school or attempting to talk with children or an individual woman. There are 143 registered sex offenders in Washington County and 54 of them remain under supervision by state corrections agents. Each offender is required to notify the state within 10 days of a change in address or employment. The Sheriff's Department and six municipal police departments in the county this month will begin unannounced visits to the offenders' residences to verify they are complying with state law. Schmidt promised quick action if they find a problem. "If we find an offender who is not in compliance, that person will be arrested," Schmidt said. The six municipalities are Germantown, Hartford, Jackson, Kewaskum, Slinger and West Bend. About 50 other municipalities in the state already make such unannounced visits, a state corrections department official said. Profile Name: William J. Strube Age: 44 Race: White Sex: Male Height: 5 feet 8 inches Weight: 200 pounds Hair: Brown Eyes: Hazel Address: 327 Main St., Allenton Release date: June 17 Status: "His criminal history places him in a classification level which reflects the potential to reoffend," according to the Washington County Sheriff's Department Source: Washington County Sheriff's Department Offenders Supervised There are 143 registered sex offenders in Washington County and 54 of them remain under supervision by state corrections agents. Beginning this month, county sheriff's deputies and police in Germantown, Hartford, Jackson, Kewaskum, Slinger and West Bend will make unannounced visits to sex offenders' residences to verify they are complying with state law. "If we find an offender who is not in compliance, that person will be arrested," Sheriff Dale Schmidt said. More Information Database: Search Wisconsin sex offenders http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=761485