Sex Offender’s Release in Wilmington Spurs Protest

To the dismay of residents, a serial sex offender was paroled Friday in the port community of Wilmington, authorities said.

About 35 angry residents--including Los Angeles Councilman Rudy Svorninich Jr.--gathered in the lobby of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Division station late Friday afternoon to voice concerns about 41-year-old Ted Jamerson, who has been convicted of sexual assault charges four times since 1973. His last conviction in 1993 involved molesting a 15-year-old girl.

“There has to be some other way to handle this,” said activist Jo Ann Wysocki. “People deserve protection from people such as this. No one can read the future, but I’m not willing to risk it. I don’t want a tragedy to happen just because an individual with a criminal record has rights. We have rights, too.”

Jamerson, accompanied by state parole officials, arrived at the station about 3:30 p.m. to register himself as a convicted sex offender, said Capt. Bob Hansohn, the division’s commanding officer. Hansohn said he had no forewarning Jamerson was to be paroled to Wilmington.

State parole officials could not be reached for comment, but Jamerson reportedly will be electronically monitored and required to undergo psychiatric counseling during his parole.