St Johns County victim of sexual reoffenders

According to Florida Department of Corrections records, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Florida sex offender registry, as of July 15, 2013, Historic City News has found that St Johns County has suffered ten convicted sex offenders who were convicted of new sex crimes after being released under the Jimmy Ryce law.

Statewide, a Tribune news investigation published in Fort Lauderdale’s Sun-Sentinel found 594 sex offenders who were found to have committed new sexual offenses after release since the Jimmy Ryce law took effect in 1999.

The law requires the Department of Children and Families to evaluate and confine the most dangerous rapists and child molesters at a treatment center after their prison sentences end.

At least in St Johns County, that evaluation failed to work as intended when it came to William Mitchell, Shawn Tedder, William Coyne, Freddie Felder, Matthew Braddock, Thomas Bloom, Christopher Hurley, Jesse Graves, Cashus Cummings and Tommy Anderson.

	Tommy J. Anderson, 49
Time between release and new sex offense	Unknown amount of time
County of Offense	Escambia, St. Johns
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	March 5, 2016
His Story	In June 2003, DCF screeners said Tommy J. Anderson, previously convicted of lewd/lascivious conduct, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on July 17, 2004, and committed lewd/lascivious molestation in Escambia County. He is at Blackwater Correctional Facility.

	William J. Mitchell, 52
Time between release and new sex offense	9 months, 22 days
County of Offense	St. Johns
Status	Jailed
His Story	In October 2006, DCF screeners said William J. Mitchell, previously convicted of lewd/lascivious battery of child and prior sex offense unknown, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on Dec. 10, 2006, and on Oct. 1, 2007, he committed a federal offense of "transportation to engage in criminal sexual activity". He is confined in jail or prison.

	Shawn A. Tedder, 52
Time between release and new sex offense	2 years, 5 months, 10 days
County of Offense	St. Johns
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	May 19, 2024
His Story	In February 2006, DCF screeners said Shawn A. Tedder, previously convicted of sexual battery and burglary, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on Dec. 14, 2006, and on May 24, 2009, he committed sexual battery and false imprisonment in St. Johns County. He is at Gulf Correctional Institution.

	William F. Coyne, 50
Time between release and new sex offense	2 months
County of Offense	Flagler, St. Johns
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	Sept. 22, 2036
His Story	In December 1999, DCF screeners said William F. Coyne, previously convicted of lewd/lascivious assault of a child, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on Jan. 31, 2000, and on April 1, 2000, he committed sexual battery of a child in St. Johns County. He is at Franklin Correctional Institution.

	Freddie O. Felder, 37
Time between release and new sex offense	11 months, 30 days
County of Offense	St. Johns
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	Serving life in prison
His Story	In November 1999, DCF screeners said Freddie O. Felder, previously convicted of attempted sexual battery, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on Sep. 8, 2009, and on Sep. 6, 2010, he committed lewd/lascivious battery in St. Johns County. He is serving a prison sentence at Columbia Annex.

	Matthew R. Braddock, 39
Time between release and new sex offense	3 months, 28 days
County of Offense	St. Johns
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	July 19, 2036
His Story	In August 2004, DCF screeners said Matthew R. Braddock, previously convicted of lewd/lascivious assault of a child, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on March 29, 2011, and on July 26, 2011, he committed lewd/lascivious molestation in St. Johns County. He is at Madison Correctional Institution.

	Thomas A. Bloom, 51
Time between release and new sex offense	6 years, 4 months, 2 days
County of Offense	St. Johns, Volusia
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	Oct. 16, 2015
His Story	In June 1999, DCF screeners said Thomas A. Bloom, previously convicted of lewd/lascivious assault of a child, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on Aug. 1, 2000, and on Dec. 3, 2006, he committed lewd/lascivious molestation in St. Johns County. He is at Walton Correctional Institution.

	Christopher J. Hurley, 38
Time between release and new sex offense	1 year, 8 months, 11 days
County of Offense	Clay, St. Johns
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	Oct. 5, 2018
His Story	In April 2001, DCF screeners said Christopher J. Hurley, previously convicted of lewd assault/sexual battery of a child, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on Dec. 19, 2001, and on Aug. 30, 2003, he committed lewd/lascivious conduct in St. Johns County. He is at Gulf Correctional Institution.

	Jesse L. Graves, 35
Time between release and new sex offense	5 months, 17 days
County of Offense	Polk, St. Johns
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	Aug. 4, 2021
His Story	In April 2002, DCF screeners said Jesse L. Graves, previously convicted of lewd/lascivious assault of a child, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on Dec. 1, 2002, and on May 18, 2003, he committed lewd/lascivious molestation, lewd/lascivious exhibition and lewd/lascivious conduct in Polk County. He is serving a prison sentence at Columbia Annex.

	Cashus D. Cummings, 31
Time between release and new sex offense	5 months, 5 days
County of Offense	St. Johns
Status	Jailed
Prison Release Date	Dec. 24, 2049
His Story	In October 2007, DCF screeners said Cashus D. Cummings, previously convicted of lewd/lascivious battery of child, should be released from prison without further review. He was freed on Feb. 27, 2008, and on Aug. 1, 2008, he committed lewd/lascivious battery in St. Johns County. He is at Wakulla Annex.

Dr. Philip R. Ventura, Jr., Palm Beach State College, Dana Williams and Sally Kestin, Sun-Sentinel, all contributed to this report.