Sex Offender Won’t Return Here

WAITSBURG - The Walla Walla County Sheriff's Department has announced a change of plans for former Waitsburg resident Jason Lujan, a level-three sex offender.

In October, detective Cristal Harris reported that Lujan would be released from police custody in November and would be returning to live in Waitsburg. The sher- iff's department organized a community meeting in Waitsburg last month to educate residents about sex offender notifications.

However, Lujan's release was put off because of an order for protection placed upon him. Harris said he is now scheduled for release in January, but he will not be returning to Waitsburg. He will live in the 500 block of South 2nd in Walla Walla, she said.

Lujan is described as a white male, 5-foot 6-inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Lujan was sentenced in 2007 in Walla Walla County for burglary with sexual motivation and two counts of child molestation in the second degree, which resulted in a 60-month sentence. Lujan reportedly entered the victims' home without consent and assaulted two juvenile females to whom he had supplied alcohol earlier in the evening.

In 2003 Lujan was sentenced in Columbia County for residential burglary with sexual motivation and rape of a child in the third degree. In this case, Lujan reportedly sneaked into the bedroom of a 14-year-old through a window and had consensual sex with her numerous times.

For these crimes, Lujan was sentenced to 60 months.

Also according to the Walla Walla County Sheriff's office, in 1994, as a juvenile aged 14, Lujan sexually assaulted a 6-year-old female.

Lujan will be on community supervision with the Department of Corrections for the next 36 months.

The public is reminded that the sheriff's office is required by law to release information on level III sex offenders, Harris said.

The individuals who appear in such notifications have been convicted of a sex offense that requires registration with the sheriff's office in the county of their residence. Further, their previous criminal history places them in a classification level which reflects the potential to reoffend.

According to the sheriff's office, Lujan declined to participate in the sexual offender treatment program during his most recent incarceration period.

However, citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate, or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated, Harris said. Such abuse could end our ability to do community notifications, she said.

Lujan is not wanted by law enforcement at this time. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public, she said.

Police have no legal authority to direct where sex offenders may or may not live. Unless court ordered restrictions exist, this offender is constitutionally free to live wherever he chooses.

For information and safety tips regarding registered sex offenders in the area, log onto the Walla Walla County website at www.co.walla-walla. wa.us/Departments/SHE/ index.shtml and click on the "Sex Offenders" link on the left side of the page.