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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: News
Sex-offender employees leave Penn
Officials: Two with criminal histories are no longer employed, reasons undisclosed
Clint Cohen
The two convicted sex offenders discovered by Penn officials last month to be working for the University are no longer employed at Penn, University officials said Friday.
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle confirmed that the two employees are no longer affiliated with the University but refused to provide further details about the reasons for their departure.
One of the employees had been an administrator in the Anthropology department, while the other was a temporary worker in the School of Nursing.
Larysa Carr, assistant to the chairman of the Anthropology department, said that the administrator had resigned on Feb. 2, but would not provide further details about his resignation.
The administrator in question was contacted by phone Friday but offered no comment about the circumstances surrounding his departure from the University.
The second employee did not return requests for comment.
Officials from the Nursing School could also not be reached for comment.
University officials discovered the prior sex convictions of the two employees on Pennsylvania's Megan's Law Web site - an online directory of sex offenders in the state - after graduate student Kurt Mitman was found to be commuting to class from a Bucks County prison, where he was being jailed on a child-molestation conviction.
Unlike Mitman, the two employees were not still serving their sentence while at Penn, but the University nonetheless decided to review their employment status to "determine the risks, if any, to the safety and security of our community," according to a letter published by The Daily Pennsylvanian that was written by Provost Ron Daniels and Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli.
Vice President for Human Resources Jack Heuer said that "Megan's Law was not a reason for either employee to no longer be" at Penn, citing discrimination policies that prevent a university from terminating employment solely based upon criminal history.
University officials refused to provide any further comment regarding the circumstances of the two individuals in question.
Mitman is also no longer a student at Penn after a Bucks County judge revoked his academic release privileges on Feb. 2. He had previously been allowed to leave prison for up to 12 hours a day to attend classes.
He is eligible for parole in September, when he can re-apply to the University in order to continue his studies.
-Staff writer Stephen Morse contributed reporting to this article.
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle confirmed that the two employees are no longer affiliated with the University but refused to provide further details about the reasons for their departure.
One of the employees had been an administrator in the Anthropology department, while the other was a temporary worker in the School of Nursing.
Larysa Carr, assistant to the chairman of the Anthropology department, said that the administrator had resigned on Feb. 2, but would not provide further details about his resignation.
The administrator in question was contacted by phone Friday but offered no comment about the circumstances surrounding his departure from the University.
The second employee did not return requests for comment.
Officials from the Nursing School could also not be reached for comment.
University officials discovered the prior sex convictions of the two employees on Pennsylvania's Megan's Law Web site - an online directory of sex offenders in the state - after graduate student Kurt Mitman was found to be commuting to class from a Bucks County prison, where he was being jailed on a child-molestation conviction.
Unlike Mitman, the two employees were not still serving their sentence while at Penn, but the University nonetheless decided to review their employment status to "determine the risks, if any, to the safety and security of our community," according to a letter published by The Daily Pennsylvanian that was written by Provost Ron Daniels and Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli.
Vice President for Human Resources Jack Heuer said that "Megan's Law was not a reason for either employee to no longer be" at Penn, citing discrimination policies that prevent a university from terminating employment solely based upon criminal history.
University officials refused to provide any further comment regarding the circumstances of the two individuals in question.
Mitman is also no longer a student at Penn after a Bucks County judge revoked his academic release privileges on Feb. 2. He had previously been allowed to leave prison for up to 12 hours a day to attend classes.
He is eligible for parole in September, when he can re-apply to the University in order to continue his studies.
-Staff writer Stephen Morse contributed reporting to this article.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
Rafael R. Garcia
posted 2/19/07 @ 8:36 AM EST
This is a good example of the hypocrisy of society. These people served their time. They paid their debt to society. Yet when they leave jail, most doors are closed to them and it's nearly impossible to find gainful employment. (Continued…)
Friend of Penn
posted 2/19/07 @ 8:44 AM EST
I agree with Mr. Garcia. I note that the newspaper mentioned that Megan's law was NOT a factor in the termination of employment. Megan's law is a tool that is used for harassment -- even though it is a felony to do so. (Continued…)
Poop Shoot
posted 2/19/07 @ 9:07 AM EST
Mr. Garcia and Friend of Penn should hire these sex offenders or recommend them for employment where members of their families work.
A current student
posted 2/19/07 @ 2:39 PM EST
A big problem with the Megan's Law website and the label of "sex offender" is that it could mean a whole slew of things. Some people deemed "sex offenders" are violent rapists. (Continued…)
Rafael R. Garcia
posted 2/19/07 @ 3:13 PM EST
Good point, student. Another sad fact is that Mittman was hardly the kind of offender to worry about himself.
Morse Sucks
posted 2/19/07 @ 3:50 PM EST
Congratulations to Stephen Morse, on ruining another bunch of innocent lives? Who will be the next target of his useless and angry ranting? Orphaned kids? Endangered animals?
One can only hope that some day, in a far off place, Morse does something that will merit the kind of ridiculous scrutiny that he so often subjects others to. (Continued…)
Current Student???
posted 2/19/07 @ 4:09 PM EST
how exactly is there a "big problem with the Megan's Law website" in that the label of "sex offender" could mean "a whole slew of things", when the website tells you exactly what the person is on there for???
i just checked out PA's, CA's, and NJ's Megan's Law websites and they all tell you what the crime is, some even giving the victim's sex and age?
it may be a problem if a person has to check a simple yes or no box about being a sex offender, but it is CLEARLY not a "big problem with the Megan's Law website". (Continued…)
Current Student
posted 2/19/07 @ 4:59 PM EST
I just ran the search for Mitman on the PA site. It lists him as having been convicted in July 2005 for "Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse." Under Pennsylvania law, the following are among the crimes considered "Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse"
--Sex with someone under threat of death
--Sex with someone that actually results in death
--Sex with a drunk person of any age
--Oral sex with a drunk person of any age
--Oral sex between a 20 year old and a 16 year old
--Oral sex between a 14 year old and a 13 year old
I don't think it's "stupid shit" to say that while all should be considered offenses, there is a HUGE difference between threatening someone's life or actually taking their life, and a 14 year old giving a blow job to a 13 year old. (Continued…)
Chester the Molester
posted 2/19/07 @ 5:14 PM EST
Is it possible that some of these posters are child molesters themselves? There is an underground movement of molesters trying to legitimize themselves. (Continued…)
Current Student
posted 2/19/07 @ 6:21 PM EST
If you check with the DP, they will confirm that I am a current student at Penn. Quite the contrary to being a child molester, I am actually a survivor of sexual abuse/assault. (Continued…)
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