WC New Mexico News

New Mexico legislators are considering changes to the sex-offender registry after Jeffrey Epstein avoided being registered locally as a sex offender after he made a guilty plea in Florida more than a decade ago.

The legislators will consider making changes to the sex-offender registry policies because Epstein, who was accused of abusing young women at his ranch just outside of Stanley, was not registered even though he pleaded guilty in Florida, U.S. News reported.

House Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo) told the news agency that he had filed a bill that would make it an automatic requirement for sex offenders registered in other states to also register in New Mexico if they spend 20 consecutive days in the state during the year. Staying 10 consecutive days also triggers the requirement, according to the news agency.

“They look around the country, 'Where is it I don't have to register?'" McQueen told U.S. News. “Oh look, New Mexico has some slightly different laws, I can fly under the radar."

Currently, the law requires registration for an out-of-state offense only if that offense has a New Mexico equivalent, the news agency reported.

McQueen told U.S. News that Epstein's ranch was a "haunting reminder" of his behavior and that he was unsure how Epstein was able to dodge the law in being required to register.

McQueen also told the news agency he worried if the law continued as it currently stands, the state could become a safe haven for sex offenders.

Epstein was the owner of a ranch in Stanley, known as Zorro Ranch. Epstein had purchased the ranch from former Gov. Bruce King, according to Las Cruces Sun News.

Epstein was arrested in July and died by suicide in August while awaiting trial for sex trafficking in New York at a federal prison.