Children's Safety Zone
Mikelle Biggs Story Index
Contact The Mesa Police Department immediately with any new information!
Mesa Police, Criminal Investigations 480-644-4078, Sgt. Steven Stahl, steven_stahl@mesa.ci.mesa.az.us
A Mesa neighborhood already reeling from a child's disappearance is now coping with news that a sex offender is living in the area.
''I don't like it because of the school over here,'' said Beth Kerr, 50, a mother of three, including a 17-year-old daughter. ''We got too many kids walking home from school every day.''
Leonard Batiste, 40, was released from prison last month after serving six years on a charge ofattempted sexual assault. The crime involved a teenage girl who is a relative. Batiste is living with his parents in the 1500 block of East Edgewood. He has lived at the home on and off over the past 24 years.
At a neighborhood meeting at Franklin School on Eighth Avenue earlier this month, some spoke offear and wanted to know what they could do to get Batiste out of the neighborhood. Some wanted to post signs at Batiste's home saying he is a sex offender.
Some also referred to the Mikelle Biggs tragedy. The 12-year-old vanished Jan. 2, 1999, at Toltec Street and El Moro Avenue as she waited for an ice cream truck.
Her father, Darien Biggs, who attended the meeting, said he is concerned about Batiste living in the neighborhood.
''It bothers me,'' he said. ''It makes me angry. Even without my daughter being gone it would bother me.''
Although Batiste is a Level 3 sex offender, the group considered most likely to offend again, his family told a crowd of about 300 people that he would not harm anyone. They pleaded with the community to not harass them.
''He's trying,'' brother Anthony Batiste Sr. said. ''My brother has changed.''
Lionl Batiste stood to address the crowd and talk about his son. The soft-spoken man said his son wants to be a productive citizen. He added that his son has a lot of family support.
''He is not a threat to this community,'' he said. ''I'm going to pray the community will not be a threat to our household.''
Police urged residents to be responsible. Sgt. Earle Lloyd said police notified the public about Batiste so they would know he is in the area. He told them that gives them an advantage -- they know where he is. He added that Batiste served his time.
''If you harass, do something in violation of the law . . . the law is going to go away and you won't know the person is living next to you,'' Lloyd said.
Chris Hoopes, 34, a mother of two, is glad to know all about Batiste. She said residents should leave Batiste alone but stay alert.
''At least we know this and can keep an eye open,'' she said.
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Reproduced with permission from: The Arizona Republic Byline: By Monica Davis, The Arizona Republic ©Copyright 2000 Arizona Republic |
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