Sex Offender Ousted from School Zone After Community Outcry

Cops have relocated a Level 3 sex offender on parole after he was found to have moved within feet of Smithtown East High School, prompting outraged community members to raise alarms.

According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services website, Jae Claassen, 23, was living at 151 Northern Blvd. in St. James, which according to MapQuest records is within .21 miles of Smithtown East High School. Claassen was convicted in Sept. of 2008 of a Level 3 crime.

New York State law mandates as a condition of parole that Level 3 sex offenders may not reside within 1,000 feet of a school.

Laura Ahearn, Executive Director for Parents for Megan’s Law and Crime Victim Center said the group received calls on June 14 from community members informing them that the felony sex offender was residing close to the school. Ahearn then contacted the state’s parole board to inform them that the offender, who is on parole, was in violation of the law.

Ahearn said she was unsure how long Claassen had been living there, but said it was not long.

“We don’t know why he ended up there,” she said. “The parole board took immediate action and he was moved.”

According to public records, Claassen is now jailed in the Riverhead  Correctional Facility due to a parole violation.

Smithtown School District Clerk Maureen O’Connor said they discontinued the practice of sending notifications regarding sex offenders to parents several years ago and that they inform parents at the beginning of each school year to register their email address with the Parents for Megan’s Law website to keep informed of sex offenders who have moved into the area.

“Parents can check the online calendar for information on how to register to receive notifications on sex offenders,” said O’Connor. “We have not sent a paper copy home in several years. A hard copy is kept on file on area sex offenders at the district offices that parents can check. They can also check the parent portal.”