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Judge Keeps Man's Name On Sex Offender List

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Sarasota Herald Tribune

Published: November 13, 2007

BRADENTON - A circuit judge today denied a man's request to have his name removed from the list of sex offenders in Florida.

Christopher Rush

Christopher Rush, 21, had sex with a teenager in August 2003 and was later charged with lewd or lascivious battery. Rush said the sex was consensual. The girl told police the sex was forced.

Rush pleaded guilty to the charge in 2005 and was placed on probation. His inclusion on the list has caused him harassment and made it difficult to find and keep a job, his attorney said in court papers.

Richard Reinhart, the attorney for Rush, said his client met the requirements for removal from the sex offender list based on new legislation called the Romeo and Juliet laws. Rush was no more than four years older than the girl,and the sex was "nothing more than high school, adolescent, consensual sex," Reinhart said.

Prosecutors, however, said the sex was forced and Rush is not entitled to have his name removed from the list.

Circuit Judge Edward Nicholas denied Rush's request, but did not give an explanation. The ruling was the second time this month a judge in Manatee County has rejected a request to have a name removed from the sex offender list.

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