DEAR ABBY:
My 30-year-old stepson, “David,” is a convicted sex offender, currently serving a 15-year sentence for possession of child pornography and having inappropriate conversations with a preteen that almost went further. This was his third arrest for the same thing. David is also mildly autistic. I am beside myself. Because of David’s autism, his family looks the other way about his crimes. They all send him money, call him, buy him things, etc. I have kids of my own, and, frankly, the whole situation makes me want to vomit. I hide how I feel and try to be there for my husband because he loves his son, and it pains him to see David in prison. He also has been wonderful to my kids and raised them like his own.
I’m dreading what is going to happen when David is out of prison. He has nowhere to go, and I know he’s going to want to live with us. I am 1,000% against this, and I truly believe it could happen again.
My kids will be adults soon and away at college when he’s released, so I can’t use that as an excuse for him not to live with us. I also don’t want my home address on the sex offender registry. The street where I live is full of children. What can I do?
I don’t want to lose my husband over this. I love him with all my heart, which is why I can’t tell him how I feel. Every time David speaks with his dad, he tells him he wishes he were home with him. Please help! — STEPMOM WHO’S DREADING IT
DEAR STEPMOM:
It is time to have an honest talk with your husband about this. When a sex offender is released from prison, there are stipulations in place. One of them is being forbidden to live close to young, vulnerable children. Because your street is populated with them, David may not be ABLE to live with you. This is something you and your husband need to be communicating about as David’s release draws nearer, because it will have an impact on your lives.
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