Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Charles Gorham is due to appear in court next week.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
McDONALD -- A man convicted of taking indecent liberties with a minor has twice moved into the quiet neighborhood around Roosevelt Elementary, so officials are asking a court to make him leave forever.
William M. Roux, solicitor for McDonald village and attorney for Weathersfield Township, and J. Terrence Dull, law director for Niles, have filed a civil complaint in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court against Charles Amos Gorham, residing at 700 McDonald Ave.
Gorham is to appear before Judge Andrew Logan on March 31 to answer charges in the complaint.
Gorham was convicted June 6, 2001, in Virginia of taking indecent liberties with a minor. According to the newly filed civil complaint, Gorham was also found guilty twice -- once in 2002 and again in 2004 -- of violation of his probation in the original conviction.
Gorham previously moved to McDonald, across the street from the school, but moved away when the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department initiated a civil action against him to relocate. He notified the sheriff's department of his return to the neighborhood March 9.
What's in complaint
Roux and Dull say in the complaint that Gorham, as a registered sex offender, cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school building. They contend that the McDonald Avenue home is within the zone of both Roosevelt Elementary and McDonald High School.
The complaint asks the court to permanently bar Gorham from living at the McDonald Avenue address or any other address within 1,000 feet of a school; notify Gorham that if he does move within 1,000 feet of a school, he could be fined or jailed; and make Gorham pay the costs of bringing the complaint to court.
Several residents have complained about Gorham's presence since he returned to the neighborhood. Many have said there should be concern for the children freely walking the neighborhood without knowing Gorham's history.
Gorham has said the residents have nothing to fear from his presence. He maintains that the circumstances leading to his conviction are a misunderstanding and that he will be exonerated.
Gorham earlier this month said he lives in Cortland with his wife but returned to the McDonald home of his sister's fianc & eacute; for a few days because of a disagreement with his wife.
He said Ohio law mandates that he report his whereabouts to authorities if he will be in the home more than five days. He said he plans to eventually leave the McDonald home and return to his wife.
jgoodwin@vindy.com