The release of a violent sex offender from the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center has Kenosha County's sheriff up in arms. The county is fighting it in the courts.
Sex offender Michael McGee is from Racine County, and that's why the hearing took place there.
Back in 1987, McGee broke into a home and raped a woman. Now the state wants to place him in the Town of Wheatland, but that's not sitting well with neighbors.
"Nobody deserves to have that kind of threat 50 feet from your home," said Mark Rogers, neighbor. "As a father, I’m not scared, but I am scared for my family. It would make it very hard to leave here, and leave them in this house knowing what the possibilities are next door."
On May 4, Racine County ordered the supervised release of McGee. But Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth says that shouldn't have happened. He claims DHS told them a less violent sex offender was being considered for placement in the Highway 50 home.
"Well we come to find out that the state did a little bait and switch. They said 'here’s the person that’s coming,' and then when we actually found out about it, it was too late," said Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth.
Video captured Tuesday morning shows DHS attempting to drop McGee off, but they found a locked door and a note, saying it needs a building inspector to check it out because of recent remodeling where no permits were issued.
TODAY'S TMJ4 spoke with the Wheatland Board Chairman Tuesday, who says he's not trying to stop the move in. He just wants to ensure safety for anyone living nearby.
As for McGee, he's been taken back to Sand Ridge for now.
