I
live in New Mexico the same state that I was convicted of molesting my 2 daughters
in 1996. I mistakenly thought the "justice system" would work. I was
wrong. Anyway, I moved to Arizona for a short time but returned to New Mexico
after a run in with my P. O. in Arizona convinced me that violating my Civil and
Constitutional rights was the least of her worries. I had
been working at the same job, and working my way up the chain for a little over
4 years. I had been promoted to a lower management position. Public sentiment
over a "high risk" offender moving into the city was very negative.
The mayor had been egging the people on about how dangerous this person was and
that the people needed to make it known that the people would not tolerate a sex
offender living in the neighborhood. One of my co-workers,
recently demoted to the same lower management rank that I held, decided that checking
the web site that the state maintains would be a good thing. Low and behold he
discovers my information. Without hesitation he prints the info from the web page
and brings it to work. Later that same day in February of 2003 I am called to
HR along with my manager. It has been brought to the attention of the management
that I am a convicted felon, (yes I lied on my application but I needed the job,
wrong I know) and that I am a sex offender required to register in the state.
I admit all and apologize and then asked if the information was discovered on
a random background check or if the info was provided by a co-worker. I am told
the the info was provided by a "concerned co-worked". I ask the identity
and am told that this info is confidential. I state that I feel my right to professional
privacy has been violated and that the matter should be dropped. I am advised
that the company has to take time to consider my disposition. I ask why and am
advised that the fact that I lied on my application has to be dealt with. I am
told that something should be known in a day or 2 and just to continue working.
I again state that I feel that I have been wronged and that the matter should
be dropped and state that the "concerned co-worker" should be reprimanded
for invading a co-workers privacy and involving his or her personal life at work.
I am told that the information discovered is on a public web site and that any
one can find the info. I agree but only if they are looking for it. And is should
not be brought to work regardless. 2 days later I was called in to HR and fired.
A letter to the ACLU advised that I may have a case but the
resources to take the case were not available at that time. I wrote to a private
attorney who advised me that I had a case but that he needed $3,000 dollars to
get started. Needless to say the case stopped right there. I managed to find another
job, and was honest about my history when I completed the application. What
bothers me is that the information about my conviction is so readily available
and can be used for just about anything and I, nor my family have no recourse.
In certain states my classification would have been a level 1 (least likely to
re-offend) and my information would not have been available on the web site. I
can get walked all over, lose a job, a home and maybe even my family, and I have
no legal leg to stand on. In the city that I live in, Albuquerque
a new ordinance just took effect stating that those convicted after 1970 must
now register. A similar ordinance was struck down but the city came right back
with another. I was not given a life sentence when I
was convicted. I should not have to be penalized for life. I completed my sentence
2 years ago. -Anonymous
New Mexico | 
