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Sex offender waives first appearance

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

(Updated 5:47 pm)

GRAHAM (MCT) — A Gibsonville man charged Friday because he was on school premises as a convicted sex offender waived his first appearance in Alamance County District Court on Monday and was instead represented by his attorney.

Defense attorney Rick Champion told a judge that Peter Schumacher was at Western Middle School on Thursday covering an assignment about domestic violence education for the Burlington Times-News.

While the 46-year-old Schumacher was at the school, the Alamance County Sheriff's Department said a teacher recognized him as a registered sex offender. The newspaper put him on administrative leave Friday. Schumacher has worked at the newspaper since 2001.

State law forbids registered sex offenders from getting "within 300 feet of any location intended primarily for the use, care or supervision of minors."

Schumacher pleaded guilty in Guilford County to six counts of indecent liberties with a minor in March 2003. He was given 60 months supervised probation, which he completed in June 2007.

In June 2006, Champion said Superior Court Judge Henry Frye Jr. approved a motion to modify Schumacher's probation to allow him to go on school premises in order to do his job as a photographer.

More stringent restrictions were placed on sex offenders in December 2008. State laws enacted at that time prohibited offenders from locations primarily intended for minors, which includes schools, children's museums, child care centers, nurseries and playgrounds, but wasn't limited to those places.

Bobby Baldwin, an investigator with the Alamance County Sheriff's Department, was also present in the courtroom Monday. Baldwin told the judge that Guilford County authorities had presented Schumacher with paperwork in March informing him about the changes in the law that went into effect Dec. 1.

Baldwin alleged that Schumacher signed a document indicating he was aware of the change.

Champion said Schumacher took eight pictures during his assignment at Western Middle School. The photos were of an adult presenting a program to some students at the school.

"They make it sound like he was taking pictures with some lewd and lascivious purpose," Champion said.

Schumacher is due back in court May 18.

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kgammon

April 28, 2009 - 3:21 pm EDT

Thanks Rick Champion for defending this guy because surely a sex offender would not do anything that had a lewd or lascivious purpose. Maybe he can come home with you one afternoon and spend time with your children. But as a parent of a child at Western Middle I do not want him with mine!

Panacea

April 28, 2009 - 6:14 pm EDT

The newspaper was probably unaware of the charge and conviction since it came after he was already employed--a lot of charges like this go under the radar. He was probably afraid to tell his supervisors about the conviction, rightly fearing he'd be fired. No win situation for him. He'd have gotten away with it if he hadn't been recognized.

That's the price you pay for being a sex offender. No sympathy for him. He should have risked his job by fessing up and asking for another assignment rather than risk incarceration AND losing his job.

pigsfly

April 29, 2009 - 1:44 am EDT

Gee, let me think, 6 counts of indecent liberties with a minor, got arrested, did probation- supervised of course, in the newspapers. Oh yeah, he works for one, yeah, I'm pretty sure the newspaper knew! They should be sued by the parents, the school board and by the school it's self.The judge who allowed modification on his probation to enter schools and anywhere else children were should be disbarred.

kikablue

April 28, 2009 - 8:11 pm EDT

Oh come on Champion, you're SUPPOSED to be an attorney. The law is for EVERYONE, he had no more business there around children, than any other pervert. And I still say That superior court judge needs to be behind bars not behind a bench. Or is he BEYOND THE LAW, that he himself is supposed to up hold as he expects others to do. Put the gavel down take off the robe of JUSTICE and hit the road Jack, and don't you come back no more, no more .