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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 24, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 10, 2004 Registered offender caught near kids By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune A nod and a wave in the direction of three young children were all a Medford police officer needed to see before arresting a 74-year-old registered sex offender released from prison just eight days earlier. Kenneth Theodore Mattix, who turns 75 next month, is being held in the Jackson County Jail on a parole violation after being arrested Saturday by Medford police officer Willy Rojas, Lt. Mike Moran said. Mattix was released from state prison Nov. 26 after spending 12 years behind bars for crimes including first-degree sex abuse, first-degree sodomy and attempted first-degree rape of a child. "He made it a whole week and a day" before being arrested again, said Jackson County parole officer Michael Fansler. When Mattix was released from prison, Fansler issued community notification fliers to inform neighbors that a sex offender would be living in their area. Medford police also were notified. Advertisement Mattix has been classified by state parole officials as a sexually violent, dangerous offender, Fansler said. As a condition of his parole, Mattix was not allowed to initiate contact with any minor. Rojas knew this, and while on routine patrol Saturday morning near the intersection of Central and Clark avenues, recognized Mattix and saw him nod and wave to girls aged 5 and 6, and a 2-year-old boy. Fansler said the children were with their mother at the time. "A nod and a wave is enough for him to go back" to jail, Fansler said. "Willy knew who (Mattix) was from the picture. That’s just great police work." To most people, Mattix might not seem the type who poses a danger to children, Fansler said. "If somebody looked at him, they’d probably see a nondescript, harmless old man," he said. "He’s anything but. ... This guy is an extremely dangerous criminal." In 1992, Mattix was convicted in Jackson County Circuit Court of several sex crimes involving two children whom he had cared for as a "nanny," Fansler said. The children were 4 and 9 when the crimes occurred. Mattix has four previous convictions for molesting children, officials said. Mattix will spend a minimum of 90 days in jail for gesturing toward the children, which is considered a technical violation of his parole, Fansler said. But Fansler is recommending Mattix be returned to prison. Parole officials will soon consider Fansler’s request at a local hearing to decide his future. "This guy is hugely dangerous," Fansler said. "He will re-offend if given the opportunity." Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers