Sex Offenders Allowed to Live Half a Mile from FHS, Seven of Them Do

There are 40 registered sex offenders living in Fairfax City. Seven of them, however, live at the same hotel, less than half a mile from Fairfax High School.

Under Virginia law, their motel room homes are legal.

All reside at the Anchorage Motel at 9865 Fairfax Boulevard, a two minute drive from Fairfax High School.

Here are the details from Virginia's Sex Offender Registry:

• Steven Augustus Brewster, 53, was conficted of rape in 1984. He was wanted in 2003 and 2008 for failing to register. He last registered in January.
• Robert Conway, 59, was convicted of four counts of indecent liberties with a child by custodian in 2001.
• James Edward Flanagan, 57, was convicted of rape and two counts of forcible sodomy in 1983.
• Michael Maurice Gibson, 33, was convicted of indecent liberties with a child by custodian and aggravated sexual battery in 1999. He failed to register in 2006, but has since renewed his registration.
• Owen Morris, 47, was convicted of forcible sodomy with a minor in 1998.
• Robert Joseph Shelby, 36, was convicted of taking indecent liberties with children and two counts of using a communications system to contact a minor in June 2010.
• Stacy Owens Tibbs, 40, was convicted of carnal knowledge of a child 13-15 years old in 2006. 

Their proximity to the school is legal, according to Virginia Code. It wasn't until July 2006 that those convicted of serious sex crimes (rape, forcible sodomy) were prohibited from living within 500 feet of a school or child day center.

In 2008, legislatures expanded the restrictions to include "any public park that borders a school and is regularly used for school activities," according to Virginia Code. A 2010 ruling also prohibits those who've committed such crimes from living within 500 feet of a playground, recreation center, athletic field or facility, or public pool.

Anchorage Motel is about 1,056 feet from the high school. That's following the roads.

The above crimes range from 1983 to 2010. Tibbs was convicted before the 2006 ruling, according to the sex offender database. Shelby's crime, contacting a minor, isn't covered by the 2006 ruling.

All of these men are prohibited from entering school property during school day, events, etc. This can be waived if they go to a school to vote, are a student in the school, or they get special permission from the court.

Virginia does not have a law that restricts offenders from living together.