Victor Vega is a registered sex offender.
He’ll admit to that, no problem.
He is not, however, a pedophile. He is not a child molester, and he has no interest messing with anyone’s kids, he said.
“A lot of people don’t know the story,” said Vega, 44, from his West Main Street home. “They figure, because someone’s a sex offender, ‘Oh, he likes little kids.’ But that’s not always the case.
“Before you go judge someone, do your homework.”
Vega is one of three sex offenders who were registered as living within 1,000 feet of Par Excellence Academy, a local elementary school. By law, registered adult sex offenders in Ohio are not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of a school, preschool or day care facility, but that restriction applies only to people convicted after July 1, 2003.
Vega says his offense was in late 2002 and his conviction in early 2003. Newark Law Director Doug Sassen said officials are still working to determine Vega’s exact conviction date — it was out of state, which makes tracking down records more difficult — but if Vega’s story holds up, he can stay put.
Par Excellence officials said they want Vega and the other two offenders to move, but Vega doesn’t think he should have to. Moving is expensive, he’s happy where he is now, and he’s not causing any trouble, he said.
This past week, Vega sat down with The Advocate to share his side of the story.
