Sex offender living in McManus mansion back in jail

Published 11:13 pm Monday, August 4, 2008

EVERETT — The high-risk sex offender who moved into the McManus mansion in early July is back behind bars after being busted for consuming alcohol.

Landlord Mike Westford — who reported the parole violation to the Department of Corrections — said his action is proof that he has zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol at his rentals.

Some neighbors say they fear the arrest last week is only the first sign of trouble in store for the 113-year-old house on E. Grand Avenue.

No one knows what’s planned for the house. Westford, who rents out rooms in several houses near downtown Everett to about 50 sex offenders, said even he isn’t sure yet.

Still, many are assuming that he’ll fill the house with sex offenders.

“If he wants to be a neighbor, he at least needs to come forward and share his plan,” said David Dean, who lives near the house and was applying a fresh coat of white paint to his picket fence Monday afternoon.

Everett City Attorney Jim Iles is scheduled Wednesday to give the City Council an update on sex offender housing regulations in the city.

The report comes a few weeks after dozens of concerned residents crammed into a City Council meeting demanding answers to their questions.

Westford, one of the few Everett property owners willing to rent rooms to registered sex offenders, has come under intense public scrutiny since his business partner bought the McManus mansion in June.

One person who lives near the McManus mansion painted his own car with a disparaging message against Westford.

Westford is getting calls from the city attorney’s office — inquiring whether he is doing work on the 16-bedroom home without permits.

And he said a threat was made against his daughter.

“There’s a mob mentality forming here,” Westford said.

Alex Thole, a former Seattle police officer who bought the house, said he understands that people are concerned.

“The idea that 20 to 40 sex offenders will move in is erroneous,” he said.

Westford chimed in.

“We will rent to sex offenders, but that is not our goal or purpose,” he said.

Westford said people have to be recovering from drug or alcohol addictions in order to qualify as his tenants.

John Thaler-Sanborn, executive director of New Life Prison Ministry, an Everett-based group that helps find housing for released prisoners, said he’s worked with Westford for about a decade.

Thaler-Sanborn said felons are typically difficult to place, but sex offenders — despite lower recidivism rates that most other criminals — are the hardest to place.

“He knows that there is a need out there, and Mike Westford is a very strong-willed individual,” he said.

Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.