SUNBURY — Teri Jo Hunt wipes tears from her eyes as she talks about her “past coming back to haunt” her.
In Hunt’s case, the past involves a 2002 conviction for child sexual abuse for photographing the breasts of a 15-year-old girl, who then passed the photo to an adult male.
For the felony crime, Hunt spent two years on probation and was placed on the state’s Megan’s Law registry for 10 years.
Now Hunt may be in more legal trouble for allegedly violating an ordinance she says she was unaware was even on the books.
The 38-year-old Sunbury mother of four — who has custody of her boys ranging in ages 3 to 14 — said she has no trouble abiding by the state’s Megan’s Law but wonders when the punishment will cease.
Hunt on July 10 allegedly violated the 2006 Sunbury ordinance that restricts registered sexual offenders from loitering or living within 1,000 feet of areas where children gather when she attended a Sunbury Celebration event at Oppenheimer Pleasure Grounds with three of her children.
“How was I supposed to know I was breaking the law? I didn’t even know there was a city ordinance,” Hunt said, tears filling her eyes. “No one ever notified me.”
She’s apparently broken the law numerous times, even in full view of city police, by taking her children to the park and to sports events. One of her sons plays on a T-ball team with the child of a Sunbury police officer, Hunt said.
By contrast, the state has kept her informed of any changes in the law, including a mailed letter last year explaining that sex offenders must now also register their vehicles with the state police.
Every year since 2003, Hunt said, she’s visited the state police at Stonington to register her address and to be photographed, as required under the law.
“I go out every June,” she said, adding that she always inquires about her rights.
Sunbury Celebration incident
At no time was she ever told she could not be within 1,000 feet of a playground, park or other public place where children congregate in Sunbury.
“I did that (asked about any changes in the law) because I don’t want to put myself in a position” that could cause problems, Hunt said.
A former Head Start bus driver for 10 years, Hunt said she was taught to make sure there were always two adults supervising a child.
She felt at ease taking her boys to the Sunbury Celebration festivities last week because there were numerous adults there.
But the atmosphere was less than comfortable for Hunt, who said she saw one woman pointing at her and whispering to others in the crowd just before a Sunbury police officer showed up.
After checking out that she was no longer on probation, Hunt said, the officer allowed her to return to the park.
She did return for her children’s sake.
“I went back in and stayed for 45 minutes. I could tell I was being watched. It was horrible,” she said, describing how the same woman continued to stare and point at her.
A few days later, Hunt learned for the first time about the city ordinance banning her from areas like the Oppenheimer park after her mother read a media report.
“Even the police didn’t know about the ordinance. How was I supposed to know?” she said.
Nearly one week later, Hunt said, she still hasn’t received official notice of the city’s ordinance.
Faces fine, jail time
Just like the ordinance, she found out from the media that she may be charged with a summary offense, which carries a maximum $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
“I’m devastated. I’m devastated for my kids, that I can’t take them to the park to let them enjoy their life,” she said, breaking out in tears.
Hunt said her two oldest boys are enrolled in cyber school and she’s considering removing her 7-year-old from public school also to protect him “from being picked on.”
n E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com
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Sunbury sex offender: City has a law?
Woman says she wasn’t notified of Sunbury ordinance
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