Opinion ID: 1828790
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: conclusion

Text: ¶ 28. Requiring Jeffery Stallworth to register fulfills the spirit and intent of the Legislature in creating the Mississippi Sex Offender Registration Laws. To do otherwise would be an affront to and an intrusion upon the rights of the general public, whom the law seeks to protect. The pertinent portion of Mississippi Code Annotated Section 45-33-21 states, Persons found to have committed a sex offense have a reduced expectation of privacy because of the public's interest in safety and in the effective operation of government. In balancing offenders' due process and other rights, and the interests of public security, the Legislature finds that releasing such information about criminal sex offenders to the general public will further the primary governmental interest of protecting vulnerable populations and, in some instances the public, from potential harm. ¶ 29. It is not the duty or within the power of this Court to divine the State of Maryland's intent in allowing Stallworth to plead guilty to a non-registerable offense in Maryland after being charged with multiple sexual offenses. It is our calling to interpret the laws of this state passed by our Legislature to protect the citizens of this state. The Mississippi Sex Offender Registration Laws are designed to warn the public of persons who commit sex offenses. ¶ 30. The facts surrounding Stallworth's conduct and crime prove that he has committed a registerable offense. Stallworth has not satisfied the requirements, nor has he met the burden of proof which would relieve him of his continuing duty to register. For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the ruling of the trial court and Stallworth shall not be relieved of his duty to register. ¶ 31. AFFIRMED. SMITH, C.J., EASLEY, DICKINSON AND LAMAR, JJ., CONCUR. CARLSON, J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY WALLER AND DIAZ, P.JJ. GRAVES, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.