“By requiring our trial courts to find the efficacy of (satellite-based monitoring) in curbing sex offender recidivism in order to satisfy Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches in the context of (satellite-based monitoring), the majority would impose a standard other than is required by Fourth Amendment jurisprudence,” Bryant wrote in her dissent.

Background

On Jan. 29, 2004 in Craven County Superior Court, Griffin took an Alford plea, as a part of a negotiated plea agreement, to the charge of first-degree sex offense with a child. As a part of the plea agreement, the court dismissed a charge of taking indecent liberties with a child.

The state’s recitation of the facts during the plea hearing stated that Griffin was the live-in boyfriend of the victim’s mother. The victim, who was 11 at the time of initial disclosiure, said Griffin had been “messing with her for the past three years.” Griffin made a full confession.

The court sentenced Griffin to a prison term of 144 to 182 months and recommended that while incarcerated, Griffin participate in a sex offender treatment program.

Griffin was released from prison 11 years later, in June 2015. On Sept. 29, 2015, the Department of Public Safety informed Griffin that he could be required to enroll in a satellite-based monitoring program.

During a hearing in August 2016, Griffin’s attorney argued that based on Griffin’s “moderate to low level” of risk and his compliance with all terms of his probation, “this level of intrusion” was not warranted.

On Sept. 1, 2016, the trial court ordered Griffin to register as a sex offender and enroll in satellite-based monitoring for 30 years, based on the facts that he had not completed the sex offender treatment program; took advantage of the victim’s young age and vulnerability; took advantage of a position of trust; and that the sexual abuse occurred over a three-year period of time.

“The court has weighed the Fourth Amendment right of the defendant to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures with the publics [sic] right to be protected from sex offenders and the court concludes that the publics [sic] right of protection outweighs the “de minimis” intrusion upon the defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights,” the trial court ruled.

Griffin appealed, and the Court of Appeals released its opinion Tuesday.

NC Court of Appeals opinions can be found at appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?format=old#.

Story from: http://www.courier-tribune.com/news/20180808/nc-court-no-proof-public-safer-when-sex-offenders-tracked