California college student body president is revealed to be a sex offender still on probation for 'lewd acts with a boy under 14'
When flyers appeared at Riverside City College on April Fool's Day
saying the student body president was a sex offender, students were
stunned by the cruel prank.
They were even more stunned when they learned it was true.
'I was flabbergasted," said Amanda Waring, a theater arts major who works for the school newspaper. 'At first people thought it was a joke.'
Doug Robert Figueroa, 40, who was elected to a one-year term as
student body president in May, pleaded guilty in 2005 to kidnapping and
lewd and lascivious acts with a boy under 14, the Riverside Press Enterprise reported.
His five-year prison term was immediately suspended and he's serving 10 years' probation.
Figueroa told the newspaper in an e-mail that he has not tried to hide his past.
'Many students have been aware of my status and we believe in rehabilitation,' Figueroa said.
'I dedicate my life to change the stigmas on these types of offenses. Don't get me wrong, there are some offenders that truly need to be on high supervision.'
College administrators released a statement saying Figueroa notified them of his status as required, and that his name appeared in a publicly available binder identifying campus sex offender at the college police department.
They said Figueroa was told not to engage in activities that violate his probation, and he was not at the school's annual Halloween or Easter celebrations, where many children gather.
'The administration reviewed the district policies, the law and the constitution of the Associated Students and determined that there was no policy, statute or ordinance that could prohibit this student from seeking office as student body president,' the statement said.
According to court records, Figueroa lived in Phoenix when the crime took place.
'Mr. Figueroa
can expect to suffer life-long disabilities associated with having to
register as a sex offender,' his attorney wrote in a plea for probation. 'He will have to continue the rest of his
life to adjust himself accordingly as myriad adverse collateral
consequences from his conviction are revealed to him.'
The attorney went on to note that his client's real estate career was finished and that Figueroa was leaving the state.
Friends and family members also wrote in begging the court to grant probation.
A
psychological examination stated that he was not at risk to re-offend,
expressed remorse, and was attending a 12-step program for alcohol
abuse.
Figueroa had 'over-compensated by becoming very driven to be successful' because of low self-esteem, a counselor wrote.
His terms of probation state that he must not work anywhere where minors are present, may not volunteer or be employed by an organization which primarily serves minors, and can not attend social activities or functions primarily aimed at minors.
Waring believes the school should have given out more information about Figueroa's background.
They were even more stunned when they learned it was true.
'I was flabbergasted," said Amanda Waring, a theater arts major who works for the school newspaper. 'At first people thought it was a joke.'
Student body president Doug Figueroa was
revealed to have been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting
that he kidnapped a boy in 2005 and committed lewd and lascivious acts
on him
His five-year prison term was immediately suspended and he's serving 10 years' probation.
Figueroa told the newspaper in an e-mail that he has not tried to hide his past.
'Many students have been aware of my status and we believe in rehabilitation,' Figueroa said.
'I dedicate my life to change the stigmas on these types of offenses. Don't get me wrong, there are some offenders that truly need to be on high supervision.'
College administrators released a statement saying Figueroa notified them of his status as required, and that his name appeared in a publicly available binder identifying campus sex offender at the college police department.
They said Figueroa was told not to engage in activities that violate his probation, and he was not at the school's annual Halloween or Easter celebrations, where many children gather.
'The administration reviewed the district policies, the law and the constitution of the Associated Students and determined that there was no policy, statute or ordinance that could prohibit this student from seeking office as student body president,' the statement said.
According to court records, Figueroa lived in Phoenix when the crime took place.
School officials said they were aware of
Figueroa's status but there was no policy in place to prevent him from
running for office
The attorney went on to note that his client's real estate career was finished and that Figueroa was leaving the state.
Friends and family members also wrote in begging the court to grant probation.
Figueroa had 'over-compensated by becoming very driven to be successful' because of low self-esteem, a counselor wrote.
His terms of probation state that he must not work anywhere where minors are present, may not volunteer or be employed by an organization which primarily serves minors, and can not attend social activities or functions primarily aimed at minors.
Waring believes the school should have given out more information about Figueroa's background.
'I
think they should have told us,' she said. 'If they knew this was
happening they should have made it common knowledge. If he is going to
have a job like that and be president and interact with everybody on
campus. Now it’s a scandal. They should have told everyone.'