Robin Hood for sex-offenders rampages through foreclosed houses
A modern day Robin Hood is rampaging through foreclosed houses. Randy Young calls himself the saviour of sex-offenders. But neighbours are saying he is ruining neighbourhoods. For running three years Young has been purchasing and renting various houses, condos as well as trailers – some being foreclosed units, to registered sex-offenders as “habitats.”
He focuses mainly on foreclosed property in the limited zones where the convicted sex- offenders can live in Florida without breaking the law. Previously Young operated a whole trailer park in Orange County for the sex-offenders. It has been alleged that he crammed two dozen men into a house containing only three bedrooms in central part of Broward County.
Young is in his early fifties and is quite happy with his activities. He said, “I am providing a service people need. In the world of sex offenders, it’s either a mattress inside a room with other offenders, or living under a bridge.”
But for the neighbours of the locality the business of Young translates into a nightmare. One of the sufferers is Wilfred LLantos who resides in a house next to one owned by Young in Broadview Park locality of unincorporated Broward. LLantos said, “He has no respect for us, and no shame for what he’s done.”
Young’s mode of operation is simple and straightforward. He projects himself in advertisements as provider of habitats for sex offenders on his own website – Housingforsexoffenders.com. Those visiting the website are helped to be connected, if they so desire, to legal personnel, counselors and employers who are “sex offender friendly.”
Officially Young is registered as residing and working in and from Cocoa. He is also a part time resident of Broward, Zephyrhills and St. Petersburg in Florida. By training he is an accountant and was once the owner of a business dealing with upholstery.
In 2003 he was convicted in Volusia County for sexually improper behaviour towards a minor. This won for him a prison term of 11 months followed by a probation period of 11 months. He has been labeled as a sex offender for life.
Young was reluctant to give details about the location of his houses apprehensive about being harassed by neighbours and local officials. Since the last three years he has bought 15 houses in Florida and housed 300 sex offenders. He takes $400 per month for each of those who are provided with only a mattress. His rate is $1,000 for those who enjoy a personal room. Young does not give details of his income but says it is modest.
