By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
A Roseville man who had been operating an ice-cream vendor truck near a middle school has been arrested on suspicion of violating a law related to his status as a registered sex offender.
John Carl Alderson, 62, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon by Roseville police detectives and Placer County sheriff's deputies. State law prohibits registered sex offenders from working or volunteering in a job that involves significant contact with children under the age of 16 in an unaccompanied setting, according to a Roseville Police Department news release.
On Wednesday, investigators received a tip that Alderson had been driving an ice-cream truck near Olympus Junior High School. They also learned that he had been operating the truck for about three weeks.
Police arrested Alderson on suspicion of violating registered sex offender requirements, a misdemeanor. He was booked into the Roseville City Jail, but because the offense is classified as a misdemeanor, he was released on a citation to appear in court, the news release says.
Alderson had not applied to the Roseville Police Department for a permit to operate the ice-cream vendor truck, police said. The city requires such permits so that the Police Department can investigate the criminal history and driving record of applicants, according to the news release. Anyone convicted of a sex offense involving children would be ineligible for a permit.
Investigators have not received any information that Alderson touched or spoke inappropriately with children, or that he violated any law other than operating the ice-cream truck. Anyone with additional information may call the Roseville Investigations Unit at (916) 774-5070.
Alderson was originally required to register as a sex offender because of his conviction for a misdemeanor offense of annoying or molesting children. Although his sex registrant status was known to law enforcement, he was not required to be listed on the state's public Megan's Law Web site. Police noted that sex offenders can petition the court to be excluded from the Web site under certain circumstances, such as a misdemeanor conviction.
Police said they are disclosing Alderson's status now because of his attempt to operate an ice-cream vendor business, and to allow members of the public to protect themselves and their children.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.