rockin'robin
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Tampa, Florida -- The state laws on sex offenders are coming into question after a man -- who faced a sex charge in Sarasota -- was found naked sleeping next to a young boy.
But yet he was no longer in jail or a registered sex offender.
"This window, he break it right there," says victim's mother.
This lady who were not identifying says she found Ernest Johnson naked in bed with her 10-year-old son.
"I started screaming and calling 911," she says.
But what makes her scream even more is realizing this isn't the first time Johnson has been in trouble with the law.
NEAR YOU:Find sexual offenders, predators near you
"He plead to a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure," says Melissa Gould, Sarasota County prosecutor.
Gould says that Johnson was charged with indecent exposure after exposing himself to a 5 year old at a Walmart back in 2013.
"For misdemeanor charges, statutorily the legislation does not require them to register as sex offenders," says Gould.
While Florida does have some of the toughest sex offender laws in the country, other states -- like Colorado -- do make it mandatory for some one convicted of a misdemeanor to register as a sex offender.
"We obviously don't write the laws," says Gould.
"He is a pedophile," says Harold Mack, Johnson's former roommate.
Many say it's time for the laws to change.
"My opinion of this man he needs help, he's sick," says Gould.
10 News reached out to lawmakers asking if they are looking into any bills this session that are aimed at sex offenders, and we have yet to hear back. For the neighborhood where Johnson was staying, residents are just happy he's behind bars now -- and hope this time it's for good.
Johnson also had felony arrests in Sarasota County for burglary but since they had nothing to do with a sex crime, that did not require him to register as a sex offender.
Johnson also violated his probation from the 2013 arrest with the latest incident.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2015/03/30/sex-offenders-ernest-johnson/70703468/
But yet he was no longer in jail or a registered sex offender.
"This window, he break it right there," says victim's mother.
This lady who were not identifying says she found Ernest Johnson naked in bed with her 10-year-old son.
"I started screaming and calling 911," she says.
But what makes her scream even more is realizing this isn't the first time Johnson has been in trouble with the law.
NEAR YOU:Find sexual offenders, predators near you
"He plead to a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure," says Melissa Gould, Sarasota County prosecutor.
Gould says that Johnson was charged with indecent exposure after exposing himself to a 5 year old at a Walmart back in 2013.
"For misdemeanor charges, statutorily the legislation does not require them to register as sex offenders," says Gould.
While Florida does have some of the toughest sex offender laws in the country, other states -- like Colorado -- do make it mandatory for some one convicted of a misdemeanor to register as a sex offender.
"We obviously don't write the laws," says Gould.
"He is a pedophile," says Harold Mack, Johnson's former roommate.
Many say it's time for the laws to change.
"My opinion of this man he needs help, he's sick," says Gould.
10 News reached out to lawmakers asking if they are looking into any bills this session that are aimed at sex offenders, and we have yet to hear back. For the neighborhood where Johnson was staying, residents are just happy he's behind bars now -- and hope this time it's for good.
Johnson also had felony arrests in Sarasota County for burglary but since they had nothing to do with a sex crime, that did not require him to register as a sex offender.
Johnson also violated his probation from the 2013 arrest with the latest incident.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2015/03/30/sex-offenders-ernest-johnson/70703468/