What the heck was the babysitter thinking?

Babysitting a child is NOT the time to be sitting on a computer. Sorry. That's an off-job activity. When you are in charge of a kid, especially in a public place you better watch your kids like a hawk. This WON'T be a one time occurence. She's lucky that they were able to stop the child molestor this time.

To parents: please take this as a warning. What happened to this unfortunate little girl could happen to your own children in any public place. Watch them closely. Never assume a library is a safe place.

To my fellow librarians: I think this illustrates very clearly WHY parents freak out when indigents flock in libraries. This is a parent's worst nightmare nearly-come-true. We as a profession need to stop dismissing their fears. As a profession, we need to discuss what we can do to discourage child molestors from using the library as a place to stalk, kidnap, or abuse children.
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Police arrest homeless sex offender in library

DES MOINES, Iowa Des Moines police say a homeless man who's a registered sex offender sexually assaulted a toddler at the downtown public library.

Police arrested 32-year-old James Effler Junior after library workers removed a restroom door to free the girl. Effler is charged with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree sexual abuse and failure to comply with rules of the state's sex offender registry.

Investigators say Effler grabbed the 20-month-old girl as she played near a computer being used by her babysitter and took the child into a men's room.

Workers searching for the girl heard her cry from the restroom, which was locked. They removed the door and held Effler until police arrived.

Effler was convicted in Texas two years ago for a sex crime against a 31-year-old woman.

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