| For Immediate Release Case #11WM1108 & 11CM12772 November 15, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER CONVICTED OF VIOLATING ORANGE COUNTY CHILD SAFETY ZONE ORDINANCE BY ENTERING MILE SQUARE REGIONAL PARK ON CINCO DE MAYO
WESTMINSTER – A registered sex offender was convicted yesterday for violating the Orange County Sex Offender Ordinance by entering a County park. Hugo Godinez, 29, Santa Ana, was found guilty Nov. 14, 2011, of one misdemeanor count of prohibited sex offender entering a County park without the written permission from Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD). He was also convicted of one misdemeanor count of failing to register and show proof of residency upon release from incarceration. He faces a maximum sentence of one year in Orange County Jail at his sentencing hearing on Nov. 17, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. in Department W-13, West Justice Center, Westminster.
ORANGE COUNTY CODIFIED ORDINANCE 3-18-3 (PROHIBITED OFFENDER ENTERING A COUNTY PARK)
California Penal Code sections 290, et seq. require individuals convicted of certain crimes to register as sex offenders. The registration process is used to ensure that such offenders shall be readily available for police surveillance at all times because such offenders are deemed likely to commit similar offenses in the future.
The Orange County Codified Ordinance 3-18-3 defines an Orange County Park as any County-owned, leased, operated or maintained land before or after the effective date of this Ordinance by the County of Orange held as a harbor, beach, park or recreation area, including but not limited to Arroyo Trabuco Park, Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Clark Regional Park, Craig Regional Park, Featherly Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park, Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Mason Regional Park, Mile Square Regional Park, O’Neill Regional Park, Orange County Zoo, Peters Canyon Regional Park, Santiago Regional Park, Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park, Yorba Park, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Casper’s Wilderness Park, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, Talbert Nature Preserve, Aliso Beach Park, Capistrano Beach Park, Newport Harbor, Salt Creek Beach Park, Sunset Beach Park, Dana Point Harbor, and Sunset Harbor. The Ordinance seeks to protect children by restricting registered sex offenders’ access to these locations. Violators may be punished with up to six months in jail and/or a $500 fine.
To read the full County Ordinance, please select the April 5, 2011, press release titled “Orange County Board of Supervisors Unanimously Votes to Adopt New Law to Keep Registered Sex Offenders Out of Parks, Harbors, Beaches and Playgrounds,” under Press Releases/Media Advisories at www.orangecountyda.com.
FACTS OF THE CASE # 11WM11018
Godinez is a registered sex offender with the City of Costa Mesa Police Department. He is required to register as a sex offender for life.