Fort Worth -
Residents in a Lake Worth neighborhood are outraged after receiving a notice telling them about a violent sexual predator living nearby in a nursing home. "I don't know how they can house sexual offenders in a nursing home, especially the really dangerous ones", says Janet Barnard, who lives across the street.
It was several weeks ago, the state moved 60-year old Boyd Mullens to the Lake Worth Nursing home from a halfway house in Dallas. Mullens is under civil committment and considered a sexually violent predator, after being convicted of molesting several teenage boys. Experts say those offenders under civil committment are more likely to commit another sex offense.
Officials say Boyd was moved because he is ill, but authorities will not elaborate on what he is suffering from or how ill he is at this time. Staff members at the nursing home told the 33 News that Mullens is able to walk around, but speaks using a computer device. They say he is being housed in the same room with several nursing home residents.
Social worker, Laura Holbrook, says she was not aware that Mullens is considered such a highly dangerous sex offender. Holbrook says that while nursing home employees were told about Mullens, families and residents were never notified. "No, we don't divulge that to family members", said Holbrook.
A man who identified himself as the nursing home director refused to comment on notification. He also refused to say if any extra security precautions are being taken to protect residents.
Experts who counsel sex offenders on civil committment say that all offenders in the program should be considered very dangerous. "If I said there was no danger, I would be lying", said counselor, Ezio Leite. "Anytime a civil committment client is in a facility then everyone should be aware of who they are and the danger".
The 33 News spoke to Mullens in 2006, when he was living at the halfway house. Mullens, who was under 24-7 GPS monitoring, said he would never hurt anyone again. "Am I violent, no. Was my crime violent, no. Will I do it again, hello no", said Mullens. Experts say Mullens will continue to be under strict supervision. State officials refused to say much about Mullen's move. "No one near Mullens is in any danger", said one official.
It was several weeks ago, the state moved 60-year old Boyd Mullens to the Lake Worth Nursing home from a halfway house in Dallas. Mullens is under civil committment and considered a sexually violent predator, after being convicted of molesting several teenage boys. Experts say those offenders under civil committment are more likely to commit another sex offense.
Officials say Boyd was moved because he is ill, but authorities will not elaborate on what he is suffering from or how ill he is at this time. Staff members at the nursing home told the 33 News that Mullens is able to walk around, but speaks using a computer device. They say he is being housed in the same room with several nursing home residents.
Social worker, Laura Holbrook, says she was not aware that Mullens is considered such a highly dangerous sex offender. Holbrook says that while nursing home employees were told about Mullens, families and residents were never notified. "No, we don't divulge that to family members", said Holbrook.
A man who identified himself as the nursing home director refused to comment on notification. He also refused to say if any extra security precautions are being taken to protect residents.
Experts who counsel sex offenders on civil committment say that all offenders in the program should be considered very dangerous. "If I said there was no danger, I would be lying", said counselor, Ezio Leite. "Anytime a civil committment client is in a facility then everyone should be aware of who they are and the danger".
The 33 News spoke to Mullens in 2006, when he was living at the halfway house. Mullens, who was under 24-7 GPS monitoring, said he would never hurt anyone again. "Am I violent, no. Was my crime violent, no. Will I do it again, hello no", said Mullens. Experts say Mullens will continue to be under strict supervision. State officials refused to say much about Mullen's move. "No one near Mullens is in any danger", said one official.
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