Offender relocates to town
Toolbox
By SANDI SWITZER HERALD CORRESPONDENT - Published: April 29, 2009
CLARENDON – A 25-year-old convicted sex offender recently relocated from a neighboring community to Clarendon and law enforcement officers have alerted local officials of his presence.
Justin Canales, who has been categorized as a high-risk sex offender on the state's sex offender registry, moved from his native Middletown Springs to town last week, police officials informed the town's Select Board during a meeting Monday evening.
Canales was convicted in 2003 of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and had violated conditions of his probation including a requirement that he not engage in sex with anyone younger than 18, according to officers.
Canales shared alcohol with teenage girls, then engaged in consensual sex, which was considered statutory rape, but did not include violence, according to State Police Lt. David Notte.
The probation violation resulted in the "high risk" categorization, Notte explained.
However, the police officer indicated Canales had complied with all conditions of probation including treatment since being released last August – when he moved to Middletown Springs.
"He's been, for the most part, a model person," Notte said.
Since his release, Canales has obtained a job and an apartment, paid rent, and even had a girlfriend, according to police officials.
Canales met weekly with his probation officer, undergoes routine drug and alcohol tests, and even passed lie detector tests, explained Michael O'Malley of the state Department of Probation and Parole.
O'Malley added Canales would be under his department's supervision for about six more years.
Law enforcement officers described Canales as socially immature and a person who mainly related to 14- and 15-year-olds around the time of his 2003 conviction.
O'Malley said Canales was about to turn 26 and has matured.
"Statistically, most people stop acting like little kids after age 26," he said.
Police officials indicated they wanted to work with the community to ensure high school and elementary school officials and others were made aware of Canales' presence in town.
The Select Board indicated officers should also notify the towns' constables and post notices at local stores and the Clarendon Grange Community Center.
Rutland County Sheriff Stephen Benard informed the board his officers would engage in routine checks on Canales.
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