Shannon Lee Graling

PAROLED SEX OFFENDER ARRESTED AT MOTEL WITH BOY.



Link to this page

Byline: Lee Quarnstrom Knight Ridder Tribune News Wire

Police and a parole officer in Santa Cruz, Calif., were feeling good Thursday after thwarting what they believe was an attempt by a convicted sex offender sex offender n. generic term for all persons convicted of crimes involving sex, including rape, molestation, sexual harassment and pornography production or distribution. In mosst states convicted sex offenders are supposed to report to local police authorities, but many do not. (See: rape, molestation, sexual harassment, pornography) to molest a 10-year-old boy.

``We saved this kid. I tell you, I slept well last night,'' California Parole Agent Nick Brautovich said the day after the arrest of Shannon Lee Graling.

Using information Brautovich said he received Wednesday from a confidential source, police arrested Graling, 42, as he tried to check into a beach-area motel with the boy. Graling, also known as Edward Neal, was booked into Santa Cruz County jail on a charge of failing to register as a sex offender.

Brautovich, who had been Graling's parole agent after the Santa Cruz man had been paroled from state prison on a child-molestation molestation n. the crime of sexual acts with children up to the age of 18, including touching of private parts, exposure of genitalia, taking of pornographic pictures, rape, inducement of sexual acts with the molester or with other children, and variations of these acts by pedophiles. Molestation also applies to incest by a relative with a minor family member, and any unwanted sexual acts with adults short of rape. (See: pedophilia, rape) conviction, said he got in touch with police after he received the tip that Graling and a boy were about to check into a motel.

Officers said Graling had befriended the boy's mother, a local resident who was unaware of his history of sex offenses.

``He had taken the boy to the boardwalk,'' Brautovich said. ``Police arrested him as he was trying to book a room'' at the Westwind Motel not far from the popular beachside amusement park.

Police Sgt. Tom Watson said Graling had failed to register as a sex offender - as required by law - after moving out of a residence where he had lived since 1994, when he had completed his parole from state prison. During the six months or so that he was not registered, said the sergeant, Graling apparently spent some time in Portland, Ore.

Watson said he is contacting Portland police to see if Graling had registered as a sex offender in the Oregon city.

Watson said the failure-to-register charge was filed because Graling had apparently not yet had the opportunity to molest the boy.

``I think we saved this child,'' Watson said. ``That is our first responsibility in a case like this. Now we hope we can convict Graling, but at least we think we averted a case of molestation.''
COPYRIGHT 1996 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1996, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

No comments: