By Marshall Zelinger
m.zelinger@krdo.com
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mzelinger

PUEBLO COUNTY – Two sexually violent predators are being introduced to Pueblo-area residents, both with unusual circumstances.  Wednesday night, Pueblo County residents near Blende were informed about sexually violent predator Robert Triste.  Triste is the first SVP to be monitored by the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.  He was convicted of unlawful sexual contact on a teen boy last week.  What makes his SVP status unusual is that he’s not being released from prison or jail because he’s never been to either.  He received a sentence of two years probation. 

“Through a diagnosis and through a court order he has been labeled as a sexually violent predator,” said Pueblo County Law Enforcement Bureau Chief Charlene Graham.  “You know, it may be more unusual that it’s somebody right in the neighborhood.”

Triste will wear a GPS device on his ankle.  He’ll check in with his parole office 6-8 times a month.  The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office will check on him four times a year.

“That person has lived here for a long time and is being compliant at this point with his probation terms,” said Graham.

Thursday night, Pueblo Police will hold a public meeting to inform residents about the city’s second SVP.  The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Pueblo Police Training Academy (130 Central Main St.).

What makes this SVP notice unusual is that he will be homeless. 

“That’s just the way the Colorado law is right now.  It’s not against the law to be homeless,” said Pueblo Police Detective Jeff Shay.  “If we force the sex offenders to live where they have no support, then they’re going to go underground and we’re not going to know where they are at all.”

The homeless SVP, whose identity will be revealed Thursday night, will also wear a GPS device.  It can be programmed with zones that alert monitoring personnel if he enters an area restricted by his parole.

“I’ll be able to know where they are at all times,” said Shay.  “When you hear the term sexually violent predator, people think of somebody sneaking around in the bushes, ready to pounce on your kids, that’s not always the case.”

Pueblo Police already monitor homeless sex offenders.  According to Shay, about 95% of all sex offenders comply with the law and check in when they’re supposed to check in.