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'I am completely done:' El Cajon may crack down on hotels after two sex offenders are arrested
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Leroy N. Soetoro
Mar 23, 2023, 4:10:16 PM3/23/23
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<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/i-am-completely-done-el-cajon-may-
crack-down-on-hotels-after-two-sex-offenders-are-arrested/ar-
AA18VdV0?cvid=e44ad71e8c6547cb9741e8bed5db1758&ei=52>
El Cajon leaders are moving to punish hotels that are sites of serious
crimes, after two men in a county-funded program were arrested and accused
of having sex with a teenage girl in a local room.
Council members are also discussing a moratorium on new homeless vouchers,
although it's unclear if that could survive a legal challenge.
The proposals come after months of mounting frustration from local
officials over the number of homeless people staying in East County's
largest city.
"How many more families are gonna be torn apart by the actions of some
disgusting person," Councilmember Michelle Metschel said Tuesday at a
meeting called to discuss the situation. "I am completely done."
Local leaders previously tried to fine hotels renting high numbers of
rooms to the homeless, but backed down after California's attorney general
threatened to sue, saying such a move amounted to income discrimination.
Much of Tuesday's discussion centered on those county vouchers,
administered by Equus, although the most recent arrests involved a
different county-funded program.
On Friday, police were called by an employee of the Los Angeles-based
nonprofit People Assisting The Homeless, or PATH.
The PATH staffer said a client, Lawrence Cantrell, had recently admitted
to "sexual contact with a minor," according to a statement from the El
Cajon Police Department.
Officers later arrested Cantrell, 34, on drug-related charges, as well as
a friend, Michael Inman, 70, for a parole violation and allegedly having
child pornography. Both are registered sex offenders and law enforcement
said each acknowledged having sex with someone they believed to be
underage. Officers said they'd identified and located one 16-year-old girl
who they suspected was assaulted by the men.
Officials said there may be other victims and additional charges were
being considered. Cantrell and Inman have been booked in the central jail
and it was not immediately clear if they had attorneys.
Cantrell had been staying at the Motel 6 on Montrose Court in El Cajon,
and both he and Inman were part of PATH's Community Care Coordination
program, according to a nonprofit representative. That effort is
specifically for people in the criminal justice system, including those
getting out of prison who need a place to stay.
Unlike county vouchers, this program does accept registered sex offenders,
officials said.
The men's parole officers were aware they were staying in area hotels,
PATH spokesperson Tyler Renner wrote in an email. He shared a statement
saying the nonprofit extended its "deepest sympathies to all those
impacted by this disturbing incident."
"As an organization dedicated to serving the most vulnerable in our
community, we firmly stand against any act of violence or sexual
misconduct," PATH added.
The county has referred 99 people to PATH over the past year, although not
all required hotel rooms, according to Tim McClain, a manager with the
county's health and human services agency. Of those, 12 have been re-
arrested, he wrote in an email.
"The County is investigating the circumstances of this case to better
understand what happened and potential changes," he said.
El Cajon leaders drew little distinction between PATH's work and the
voucher program, arguing that the county has irresponsibly helped house
dangerous people in the city. The most recent arrests might only be the
tip of the iceberg, council members said.
"This is a malignant program," said Mayor Bill Wells, referring to
vouchers. "You cut the thing out."
Leaders agreed to quickly hold a hearing about the Motel 6. Councilmember
Steve Goble said the city should create a list of certain crimes that, if
they occur at a hotel, would immediately threaten owners' licenses.
A message left with the Motel 6 was not immediately returned. A
spokesperson for county Supervisor Joel Anderson declined comment.
The city is exploring a range of other responses to force the county and
hotels to make changes, including requiring more robust background checks.
Despite the mounting criticism, the number of homeless vouchers being used
in El Cajon has remained steady in recent months.
There were an average of 123 people staying in eight hotels as of mid-
March, according to county officials.
El Cajon leaders have objected to the number of non-residents being given
rooms — during one day last year, most participants had come from outside
the city — and the strain more people can place on first responders.
There have been more arrests at or near places housing high numbers of
homeless people, although police data do not show an exact correlation
between crime and vouchers.
In recent months, city leaders have also broadened their critique of local
hotels, arguing that too many are constantly calling the cops, including
businesses not accepting many vouchers.
"My goal is to create the most robust ordinances to protect the citizens
of El Cajon that will pass Constitutional muster," Councilmember Gary
Kendrick said Tuesday, "and we might have to push the envelope on this
one."
Staff writer Gary Warth contributed to this report.
This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.
--
"LOCKDOWN", left-wing COVID fearmongering. 95% of COVID infections
recover with no after effects.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Donald J. Trump, cheated out of a second term by fraudulent "mail-in"
ballots. Report voter fraud: sf.n...@mail.house.gov
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
crack-down-on-hotels-after-two-sex-offenders-are-arrested/ar-
AA18VdV0?cvid=e44ad71e8c6547cb9741e8bed5db1758&ei=52>
El Cajon leaders are moving to punish hotels that are sites of serious
crimes, after two men in a county-funded program were arrested and accused
of having sex with a teenage girl in a local room.
Council members are also discussing a moratorium on new homeless vouchers,
although it's unclear if that could survive a legal challenge.
The proposals come after months of mounting frustration from local
officials over the number of homeless people staying in East County's
largest city.
"How many more families are gonna be torn apart by the actions of some
disgusting person," Councilmember Michelle Metschel said Tuesday at a
meeting called to discuss the situation. "I am completely done."
Local leaders previously tried to fine hotels renting high numbers of
rooms to the homeless, but backed down after California's attorney general
threatened to sue, saying such a move amounted to income discrimination.
Much of Tuesday's discussion centered on those county vouchers,
administered by Equus, although the most recent arrests involved a
different county-funded program.
On Friday, police were called by an employee of the Los Angeles-based
nonprofit People Assisting The Homeless, or PATH.
The PATH staffer said a client, Lawrence Cantrell, had recently admitted
to "sexual contact with a minor," according to a statement from the El
Cajon Police Department.
Officers later arrested Cantrell, 34, on drug-related charges, as well as
a friend, Michael Inman, 70, for a parole violation and allegedly having
child pornography. Both are registered sex offenders and law enforcement
said each acknowledged having sex with someone they believed to be
underage. Officers said they'd identified and located one 16-year-old girl
who they suspected was assaulted by the men.
Officials said there may be other victims and additional charges were
being considered. Cantrell and Inman have been booked in the central jail
and it was not immediately clear if they had attorneys.
Cantrell had been staying at the Motel 6 on Montrose Court in El Cajon,
and both he and Inman were part of PATH's Community Care Coordination
program, according to a nonprofit representative. That effort is
specifically for people in the criminal justice system, including those
getting out of prison who need a place to stay.
Unlike county vouchers, this program does accept registered sex offenders,
officials said.
The men's parole officers were aware they were staying in area hotels,
PATH spokesperson Tyler Renner wrote in an email. He shared a statement
saying the nonprofit extended its "deepest sympathies to all those
impacted by this disturbing incident."
"As an organization dedicated to serving the most vulnerable in our
community, we firmly stand against any act of violence or sexual
misconduct," PATH added.
The county has referred 99 people to PATH over the past year, although not
all required hotel rooms, according to Tim McClain, a manager with the
county's health and human services agency. Of those, 12 have been re-
arrested, he wrote in an email.
"The County is investigating the circumstances of this case to better
understand what happened and potential changes," he said.
El Cajon leaders drew little distinction between PATH's work and the
voucher program, arguing that the county has irresponsibly helped house
dangerous people in the city. The most recent arrests might only be the
tip of the iceberg, council members said.
"This is a malignant program," said Mayor Bill Wells, referring to
vouchers. "You cut the thing out."
Leaders agreed to quickly hold a hearing about the Motel 6. Councilmember
Steve Goble said the city should create a list of certain crimes that, if
they occur at a hotel, would immediately threaten owners' licenses.
A message left with the Motel 6 was not immediately returned. A
spokesperson for county Supervisor Joel Anderson declined comment.
The city is exploring a range of other responses to force the county and
hotels to make changes, including requiring more robust background checks.
Despite the mounting criticism, the number of homeless vouchers being used
in El Cajon has remained steady in recent months.
There were an average of 123 people staying in eight hotels as of mid-
March, according to county officials.
El Cajon leaders have objected to the number of non-residents being given
rooms — during one day last year, most participants had come from outside
the city — and the strain more people can place on first responders.
There have been more arrests at or near places housing high numbers of
homeless people, although police data do not show an exact correlation
between crime and vouchers.
In recent months, city leaders have also broadened their critique of local
hotels, arguing that too many are constantly calling the cops, including
businesses not accepting many vouchers.
"My goal is to create the most robust ordinances to protect the citizens
of El Cajon that will pass Constitutional muster," Councilmember Gary
Kendrick said Tuesday, "and we might have to push the envelope on this
one."
Staff writer Gary Warth contributed to this report.
This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.
--
"LOCKDOWN", left-wing COVID fearmongering. 95% of COVID infections
recover with no after effects.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Donald J. Trump, cheated out of a second term by fraudulent "mail-in"
ballots. Report voter fraud: sf.n...@mail.house.gov
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
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