Published: September 27, 2008 11:08 pm      

Predator in Armagh: Community weighs response

ARMAGH — Two meetings Saturday morning revolving around new neighbor Richard Vavro highlighted a question that not one of the 100 people in attendance – including a state legislator – could answer.

Can Vavro be around kids and, if so, under what circumstances?

“We don’t know if he’s breaking parole right now,” said East Wheatfield Township supervisors Chairman Ken Umholtz.

“We don’t know what restrictions this guy is under, if any. None of us does,” he said at a legislative breakfast at the Armagh fire hall hosted by state Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana.

“I’ve heard he was not allowed to attend sporting events. Then I heard he could,” Umholtz complained.

Reed couldn’t says. His aide, Ashley Stack, checked out the case all week and didn’t know.

Even state police weren’t certain: That’s the bailliwick of the parole agents. And, in truth, they have more legal authority at this point to keep a watchful eye on Vavro.

Reed said he would try to line up a public meeting between state probation and parole agents and Armagh and East Wheatfield officials.

“Would I support every person in this community putting the state police on speed dial?” Reed asked. “Absolutely.”

The legislative breakfast was lined up weeks ago – before a violent sexual offender moved in – to discuss topics on the mind of constituents. After 15 minutes zipping through Harrisburg corruption and sports stadium financing, the focus turned to Vavro – though not by name – and locked there.

Armagh Councilman Paul Hencel was among those attending.

In an interview, he said the borough’s solicitor was out of town, so officials have not been able to discuss any future remedies like groundrules on where sex offenders can and can’t live. How close to a playground or school, that sort of thing.

But at an 11 a.m. meeting Saturday, supervisors from neighboring East Wheatfield acted swiftly:

n Moving Halloween from evening festivities to mid-afternoon for the first time in memory. Trick or treating will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 25.

n Approving a motion to collect information on setting up a Crime Watch.

n Giving solicitor Tim Burns the authority to draw up an ordinance regulating where in the township offenders could live.

“We’re looking at an ordinance that would be one of the most restrictive in the state,” he said.

n And agreeing to advertise for a code enforcement officer to make sure any residency restrictions are enforced.

Residents grilled Reed at the doughnut-and-coffee meeting, wanting to know how this could have happened and who could be held accountable. After all, Umholtz said, only 270 of 10,000 sexual predators in the state – fewer than 3 percent – have been branded as “violent.”

Reed said the state did not siphon Vavro to Armagh. It was simply his decision on where he wanted to live. And Pennsylvania isn’t subsidizing his housing, Reed said.

As to accountability, Reed said probation and parole agents are accountable through their job performance, and judges can be held accountable at the polls for too-lenient sentences.

To fears the region would become a haven for perverts, Reed said state parole officers often approve housing and wouldn’t let that happen.

Umholtz said Megan’s Law only provides a means to track sexual predators. He wants legislation that provides for 25-year minimum prison terms for violent sex offenders.

The supervisor pressed Reed for state funding to establish a local police force of $1 million to $1.5 million.

Umholtz said state police only have one or two troopers working the midnight shift and that was inadequate.

Reed countered the money would have to come from local funds.

“If you believe a police force is necessary, that is something you can deal with on a local level,” the Indiana Republican said. “You do have some power in this. You don’t get to pass the buck and say, ‘It’s the state’s fault. It’s the state’s fault.’ And neither do I.”

But Umholtz said the cost would break the back of taxpayers.

“I can’t do my job and I can’t protect my people,” Umholtz said. “I have a headache.”

Reed also showed signs of exasperation.

“Ma’am, you can roll your eyes all you want,” he told a woman up front. “When you are above the law, we’ll anoint you king.”

Umholtz suggested that residents keep a lookout and keep doors and windows locked.



On the Web



• Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole: pbpp.state.pa.us/

• State police Megan’s law site: pameganslaw.state.pa.us/

• Pennsylvania Department of Corrections: cor.state.pa.us/

• Family Watchdog: familywatchdog.us/