Sex offender violates probation

Last Wednesday’s public meeting with Island County Sheriff Mark Brown at the Madrona Fire Station to discuss Matthew Christopher Clark’s release from prison and subsequent residence on Camano Island had a twist.

Clark was arrested earlier that same day for a violation of his probation.

Brown said Clark is back in custody awaiting a hearing. He will likely be re-confined for 30, 60 or 90 days, Brown said. Then, he may be allowed to return to Camano, where he has a place to stay.

Brown said Clark’s conditions of proximity were violated, but was adamant that no contact was involved. Nor, Brown said, did the violation mean Clark had necessarily done anything – he may have inadvertently been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Brown wasn’t comfortable commenting further on the circumstances, and said probation is monitored by Department of Corrections, not the Island County Sheriff.

Brown did comment on Clark’s level two status.

“Clark came out (of prison) a level one, least likely to re-offend,” he said.

Skagit County bumped Clark to a level two, moderate risk to re-offend, after he turned down treatment classes, Brown said.

Brown pointed out that this doesn’t necessarily say anything about Clark. The classes, which are free for inmates, aren’t offered at all prisons, and they are extremely expensive once people are on the outside, he said.

For someone starting over, with no job, no driver’s license and many times no home, paying for treatment is often impossible.

Brown focused most of the remainder of the meeting on conveying the many nuances of sex abuse cases to the 16 members of the public who were present.

“It’s a very convoluted and complex system that’s very much complicated by many issues,” Brown explained.

Brown urged those in attendance to educate themselves.

“The people on the posters,” Brown said, “have been identified. The danger is in the unknown.”

He also offered this sobering statistic: “As many as one-in-three girls and onein five boys will experience sexual misconduct before age 16.”

“It’s a real problem, folks,” Brown emphasized.

Brown encouraged residents to educate themselves by visiting http://www.islandcounty. net/sheriff. On the left-hand sidebar, click on “sex offender information” link to browse safety tips, search for offenders, or register for e-mail alerts.

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629-8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews.com.