Hilda Street Sex Offender Already Moved

A registered sex offender whose Hilda Street residence set off alarms for being too close to a school had apparently moved out of the area by the time locals were tipped off, Town Councilman Gary Hudes confirmed this week.

Patch first learned of Robert Wisch from a local parent whose son attends Parkway. The Argyle Road resident, as well as Nassau County officials and Parents for Megan's Law, were unaware of Wisch's transfer as of Oct. 31.

Wisch lived at 430 Hilda Street in East Meadow but moved out sometime between Sept. 30 and Oct. 8, according to Hudes' office. He now lives on Haypath Road in Bethpage and his new address has been updated on the sex offender registry.

According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Wisch was convicted in May 1996 of felony sex abuse after having sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl. He served five years probation.

Hudes said parents who have children attending Parkway elementary school contacted his office concerned about Wisch's close proximity to the school.

But when he reached out to "various levels" of the Nassau County Police Department he was advised that Nassau County's residency restriction law was held up in court and could not be enforced at that time.

"We looked for another avenue to explore," Hudes said. "In talking with the home's director, there was another reason, a medical reason, the individual should be moved to a facility where he could get better care."

Hudes did not elaborate on Wisch's medical condition.

"If plan A doesn't work, Plan B works," Hudes said. "The individual was relocated. The welfare of the students that go to Parkway continues to be a priority for parents, the PTA and myself."

Nassau County bans registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools and within 500 feet of parks and playgrounds. The county actually lost the ability to enforce the ban back in 2011 when a court ruled that the state already had its own sex offender rules, thus rendering Nassau's powerless.  

In September, however, a three-judge appellate panel reversed that state court ruling, allowing the county to continue banning sex offenders from living near schools. The panel ruled that local governments are better suited to keep residents safe from sex offenders, especially those who are no longer on parole.

In Wisch's case, he lived .16 miles from Parkway, which translates to 860 feet, according to Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan's Law, which uses multiple mapping programs to measure distance, including an "As the Crow Flies" distance calculator. Ahearn said she had sent a lead to the county's Megan's Law unit on Sept. 19, nine days after the reversal.

Nassau County attorney John Ciampoli said he reached out to county police and the Nassau County legislature to ensure everyone was on the same page moving forward.

"The law is in effect and must be applied," he said.