INSIDE SCOOP

Upon his return from a 2 1/2-week vacation in Europe, reporter Greg

Risling was dismayed -- like many Pilot readers -- to find the

newspaper’s Web site difficult to access.

Readers should be able to find the newspaper’s site a couple of ways,

either through the Los Angeles Times Web site or the Pilot’s own site.

But while Risling was in Barcelona on the last leg of his trip, he wanted

to check the severity of the sentence imposed on convicted sex offender

James Crummel.

No dice.

Risling couldn’t find the story by one of his fellow reporters and had to

wait until his return last week to get the word.

Technology definitely has its flaws, Risling said.

P.S. -- The Pilot’s Web crew is still working out the bugs.

Sex offender labels offend Decker’s attorney

The attorney for sex offender Chris Decker, who had his $1-million

lawsuit against the city of Costa Mesa dropped last week, continues to

seek reform for Megan’s Law, a law enacted several years ago to inform

residents about the past convictions of sexual predators.

T. Matthew Phillips has a major problem with the process of labeling sex

offenders in one of three categories. His client, Decker, was branded a

high risk by the state’s Department of Justice.

Phillips would rather see a judge make the decision at a special hearing,

sort of like law enforcement agencies asking a judge to sign a search

warrant.

“Right now we have a willy-nilly approach to passing out fliers to

residents through Megan’s Law,” Phillips said. “My client hasn’t

re-offended since he was put in jail. High risk? I don’t think so. He’s

got to live too.”

Recovering alcoholic’s Monahan memories

Numerous recovering alcoholics spoke at the last Costa Mesa City Council

meeting about how Newport Harbor Recovery and Yellowstone Women’s First

Step House changed their lives.

One man, Lanny Seiler, said that after living at Newport Harbor Recovery

he feels he has a new lease on life. A comment about how he used to cross

paths with Mayor Gary Monahan, a restaurant and bar manager, drew laughs

from the crowd.

“I hope Mr. Monahan will never again have to cut me off at Goat Hill,”

Seiler said.