Neighbors push to get sex offenders moved from Phoenix-area house

MESA, Ariz. — Residents in an East Valley neighborhood were irate after a halfway house for sex offenders was reopened in their community.

Homeowners have placed signs in front of their yards that read “sex offenders, felons, pedophiles” pointing out the house near Loop 202 and Power Road.

Neighbors said the owners held an open house last year to declare their intentions of sharing the home with sex offenders. The neighbors quickly began efforts to shut it down.

One woman in the neighborhood even tried to buy the house to stop the plans.

“The home went on the market in late December after we had protested them moving in and (the county) had placed a cease and desist order,” Carla Jetton said.

“I called my realtor and we made an offer and it was accepted.”

The current owners bought the house for about $480,000. Jetton entered into a contract for $512,500 but the deal fell through before escrow closed.

“There are red arrows pointing to their house,” she said. “We just want kids to know to stay away from that neighborhood. …”

There will be a protest in the northeast Mesa community Wednesday night in hopes of forcing the homeowners to close the halfway house.

“We support the children in this community, we support their safety,” Jetton said.