Published: October 07, 2008 09:28 pm            

Parole rules for Armagh sex predator released

ARMAGH — A convicted child molester who just moved to town is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with minors, according to his parole conditions obtained by The Tribune-Democrat.

The state Board of Probation and Parole laid down a half-dozen conditions on Richard M. Vavro, 54, before his release from SCI-Cresson was approved in January. The Butler man moved to Armagh Borough last month.

“He will remain on parole until April 29, 2012,” board spokesman Bob Bushey said from Harrisburg, though Vavro must register for life as a violent sexual predator.

Vavro was first denied parole in December 2006.

In addition to no unsupervised contact, he agreed to the following parole terms:

• Outpatient sex offender treatment.

• Obey the rules of a sex offender treatment program. Agree to urinalysis testing. Submit to polygraph testing if available.

“The concept of a polygraph is to establish a baseline as to what the person has done in the past,” Bushey said Tuesday. “It’s another tool in the containment model.” He said it is not always available, particularly in rural areas.

• Maintain Social Security disability.

• Take psychotropic – mind-acting – medication if prescribed by a doctor.

• Have no contact with his male victim, nor the victim’s family.

Board papers indicate that Vavro completed a treatment program for sex offenders while in prison, and Bushey said he still is attending treatment on the outside.

Bushey said any conditions imposed by the parole agent on Vavro would not be public information.

As to restrictions on sex offenders expected to pass this month in neighboring East Wheatfield Township, Bushey said, “The board respects local residency restrictions.”

He would not address specifically a provision that would subject the state to a $1,000 fine if it did not notify the township board before an offender moves in. If it passes, as expected, the East Wheatfield provision might be the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania.

        

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