Sex Offender Sues over Park, Beach Bans

Says they violate constitutional rights

A registered sex offender has filed suit against four Orange County cities, challenging the constitutionality of laws that ban sex offenders from using public parks, beaches and even some roadways.

The suit is aimed at Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Lake Forest, which have all modeled local ordinances after the county's sex offender law, which bans those people from entering county parks and other public facilities.

The lawsuit, filed Sept. 28 in U.S. District Court, claims the ordinances that ban the plaintiff from entering city parks or beaches violate the Constitution and his protected rights under the law. The lawsuit also names Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and the four cities' police chiefs.