Some blame city manager for hiring of sex offender
BY TRENTON DANIELOpa-locka's hiring of a registered sex offender sparked an outcry in recent weeks among local residents and former city officials who blame City Manager Jannie Beverly for failing to conduct background checks on new employees.
The employee, Godfrey Alexander, 46, pleaded guilty in 2000 to sexual activity with a child by a family member, public records show. His adjudication was withheld, erasing the conviction, and he was placed on probation, which ended in April, records show.
Alexander had sexually abused a 15-year-old for almost three years, according to his arrest affidavit. He also is listed for the same offense on a website of registered sex offenders maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Alexander disclosed the information on his city employment application, revealing he was on probation for the felony, according to personnel records reviewed by The Herald.
The city opened an investigation into Alexander's hiring last week and placed him on administrative leave.
Alexander declined comment. ''I've been advised by the city not to make any statements to the media,'' he said.
Beverly has repeatedly declined to answer questions, saying only that the city is investigating the matter.
Ian Sachs, a city spokesman, said background checks are part of the screening process for new hires, but that details related to Alexander's background had not been forwarded to the city manager's office prior to his interview.
''Everybody that is hired from the city of Opa-locka goes through a background check and is asked to disclose any criminal background information before an interview is granted,'' Sachs said. ``In this particular case, obviously, there was a breakdown in the system.''
Alexander's record came to light last week when the head of a local homeowners group and former city commissioner, Steven Barrett, said he found Alexander listed on the FDLE Web site of registered sex offenders. He then distributed the FDLE fliers around town.
''[The city manager] shouldn't hire a sex offender in our city,'' Barrett said.
Alexander started work as Opa-locka's information and technology manager in January, bringing almost 20 years of experience as a self-employed computer technician, his personnel file shows.
Prior to coming to Opa-locka, Alexander worked 18 months as a systems administrator for the Fort Lauderdale-based yacht builder, the Ferretti Group USA, before he was laid off.
On his application, Alexander wrote he learned of the job through Vice Mayor Terence Pinder. ''Terence Pinder brought the man to the city,'' homeowner and activist Alvin Burke said. ``Jannie Beverly is being told to hire these people by the commission, and no background check is being done. You're going to have incidents like this come out of the closet later.''
Pinder denied Burke's accusation, saying he publicly announced the job vacancy at a meeting with the Miami-Dade Transit Authority.
Patricia Ellis, 51, a former city attorney, was so angry with Alexander's hiring she demanded to meet with the city manager at City Hall last Friday, prompting officials to call police. She was immediately arrested for disorderly conduct and trespassing, and was released the same day after posting a $1,000 bond.
''Who else has she hired without a background check?'' Ellis said before police handcuffed her. ``I have every reason to be upset, because I pay taxes. She works for us.''
The revelation about Alexander comes two months after the commission, like so many other South Florida cities, passed an ordinance restricting where sex offenders could reside. Alexander does not live in the city.
Mayor Joseph Kelley, who sponsored the sex offender law, said he was disappointed with city officials for not being aware of Alexander's past.
''To have someone in the city like that, I'm obviously disturbed by it,'' he said.
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