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Posting #113 – Will’s StoryBy: Will RSOL of Virginia, I just learned about you from the National Reform Sex Offender Laws web-site. I’d like to introduce myself. I was convicted in Virginia in 2003 on several counts of Internet Solicitation (I would not plead guilty, so they hit me with a solicitation charge for every single instance they could find in 41pages of chat conversations). I ended up getting sentenced to 55 years in prison, and had to serve 7. I got out early this year. There were never any victims of my "crime"--- the whole thing stemmed from sting operations conducted by the _____________ Police Dep't. In essence, I was convicted based upon the content of anonymous speech that was never intended to be anything more. I resent being called a "sex" offender.....and being compared to child molesters, rapists, and other violent predatory types. I am overwhelmed with the stigmatic effect of the registration requirement. I am 41-years-old and will probably never have a decent job again. This is not because I was convicted, but it's because the system won't let anyone forget about it. It's like I'm convicted again every single day of my life. I was a third year law student when I got arrested. I have a fair amount of marketing/publishing/communications experience under my belt. I am convinced that sex offenders of a less sinister variety (as well as their family and friends) need to organize into a national force to combat what's happening. I am happy to see that you have moved in that direction in Virginia. But, we need to get an organizational model similar to the one in Texas (Texas Voices) that can serve as a framework for fundraising, advocacy, and education. We also need to solicit the support of people who are not themselves sex offenders, but who are willing to lend their names and voices to combat the demonization and objectification of sex offenders like us. Please let me know what you think.
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