I hate that we do not know what really happened. He was 27 at the time, but the charge is so vague. I do not think he deserves to be fired. Especially since his boss knew. Also, he obviously can function in society. Also, they have a time limit on their registered sex offender's list? That is not really a good idea.
HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. -- An area firefighter is feeling new heat over an old mistake.
J.C. Lanford, 40, is a registered sex offender and a lieutenant with the Central Hardin Fire Department, WLKY NewsChannel 32's Andy Alcock reported Tuesday.
Lanford's record as a registered sex offender isn't news to his fire chief, but it is news to many Hardin County residents who found out about it after Lanford was injured in a recent blaze, Alcock reported.
Two weeks ago, Lanford was among the firefighters battling a blaze on South Dixie. Lanford and another fireman spent a lot of time in intense heat searching for a resident who wasn't there. At one point, the floor gave way, and Lanford broke his leg.
"It was a heroic effort on their part," CHFD Chief Chad Marsh said. "Even though the subjects were not in the structure, they risked their lives looking for them."
But when Lanford's ordeal was outlined in a local newspaper, a resident named Kathy Sherrard said she was shocked to find out lanford worked for the fire department.
According to the Kentucky Sex-Offender Registry, Lanford was convicted in Kansas for use of a minor in a sexual performance.
"These are people that kids look up to -- policemen and firemen," Sherrard said in a telephone interview with Alcock Tuesday. "How can a child look up to a sex offender?"
Marsh said he thinks Lanford has paid his debt to society and deserves to move on.
"Here's a man that went out and risked his life for somebody, then somebody wants to bring up dirt about him," Marsh said. "I don't understand why people want to keep bringing up things that's already happened. This incident happened over 13 years ago."
But Sherrard said she won't budge until Lanford is fired, Alcock reported.
"Do you think 10 or 13 years back has taken this out of this child's mind?" she asked.
Lanford has been listed on the registry for about eight years, and will be off in two years.
i agree, we need more details. i know (right now) high school girls, 15 & 16 that are seeing men in their 20's. now, if someone wanted to persue it, these men could be in deep doo doo, which i don't think is fair to them because these girls are not being brainwashed into sex with these men... now, if the break ups (because you know it will happen) turn out badly, the whole situation could be ugly and misconstrued... (did i spell that right?)
definately need more information.
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disco strangler wrote: i agree, we need more details. i know (right now) high school girls, 15 & 16 that are seeing men in their 20's. now, if someone wanted to persue it, these men could be in deep doo doo, which i don't think is fair to them because these girls are not being brainwashed into sex with these men... now, if the break ups (because you know it will happen) turn out badly, the whole situation could be ugly and misconstrued... (did i spell that right?) definately need more information.
There's plenty of girls like that. If a guy picks up a girl from a bar, he shouldn't have to ask for her age because the bartender should have done that already, but it happens. I've had friends on both sides, and a couple friends who did get busted either because parents found out or because they broke up.
