UPDATE: Sex Offender Nabbed for Lurking in Volga School Parking Lot

Tools

Dewayne John French - South Dakota Sex Offender Registry Photo

By Melissa Stee

Story Created: Feb 4, 2009 at 10:25 AM CST

Story Updated: Feb 4, 2009 at 5:54 PM CST

The Brookings County Sheriff says a sex offender is in custody after he reportedly had contact with a 15-year-old girl in a high school parking lot in Volga. Deputies arrested 36-year-old Dewayne French of Brookings. He was picked up Tuesday afternoon on felony warrants relating to his failure to register as a sex offender.

Multimedia

Watch The Video

Dewayne French has been sitting in the Sioux Valley High School parking lot after school and after basketball games, and students say police have warned them to look out.

Morgan Nelson, high school freshman says, "The police were in the school telling everyone to have their phone numbers in their phone and to not walk home, to get a ride."

Now French is behind bars, but police say it's a good reminder for parents whose kids attend here to always be on alert.

Brookings County Assistant Sheriff Scott Sebring says, "Just be aware. Talk to your kids. Make sure they're aware of what can happen."

Students at Sioux Valley High School say they've been properly warned but it's left everyone a little shaken up.

Morgan Nelson says, "A couple of girls in my class were exceptionally scared and they were making sure they were always protected."

French's court date is set for Monday. Investigators say we'll learn more about his past and the contact police say he's had with the 15-year-old when he appears in court.

User Agreement

View comments

The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of KSFY.com. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.

View Oldest Comments First

Saturday, Feb 7 at 9:57 AM Akexandria wrote ...

Im a 7th grader at sioux valley and i live right down the street it is so freaky knowing about this but at least i can keep my guards up and on tuesday and monday i was hangin with friends till 5 after school im worried cuz if i was one of htem that he was watching. me and my friends were running around the parking lot being hipper and all that stuff but now that we know thatnks b.c.p.d for cathching this man cuz now knowing that right now since he is gone i can have a little fun with friends!!!

Friday, Feb 6 at 4:51 PM Concerned wrote ...

Anybody who is 36 years old and has sexual conduct with a 15 year old is sick. Bottom line.

Friday, Feb 6 at 8:14 AM Magik wrote ...

You're worried about this sex offender, but what about the sex offender that lives right across the street from the school? I know about him because my children have told me about him. Or better, what about the janitor that used to sell drugs to students? Volga seems to think that since its a small community, stuff like this would never happen. Parents need to be more pro-active about their children's safety. Bottom line.

Thursday, Feb 5 at 10:17 PM wondering... wrote ...

Before everyone freaks out they should figure out why he is even on the sex affender list? Because some people are on there for stupid things such as urinating in public...I don't doubt that he is a perv. however, I like to know the facts before throwing him into the garbage can so to speak. And was he just speaking w/ the girl in the parking lot or were they doing something?? I just think there is a big lack of facts here.

Thursday, Feb 5 at 6:18 PM WTF wrote ...

I see the school district sends a letter home today. Way to go Volga. Keep it a secret. Many parents would have been way more cautious had there been any notice.

Thursday, Feb 5 at 3:25 PM Volga Resident wrote ...

What pisses me off about this is my daughter had a conversation with a police officer while at the school regarding the above situation several weeks ago. Because there was a "rumor" going around about it. The police officer said "not to worry, we have it under control". So if it's under control, why'd it take so long to get him? I also look at those pages, but when they are non-compliant like him, he could be anywhere, like in Volga schools parking lots. School should have reacted as well.

Thursday, Feb 5 at 12:40 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Parents need to take an ACTIVE part in the kids life, not just a reactive position. If you wait for the information, you wait to long, dont wait or expect our local government or any other entity to think for you, after all it is your child! As a father of a 4, I do look at the sex offender pages listed, and keep tabs on my kids, as well as take time to go see how safe they are, versus expecting them to be safe. Call me crazy, but sounds like more parents need to learn how to parent. Hang him!

Wednesday, Feb 4 at 10:44 PM Volga Resident wrote ...

As a mother to children in Volga, I would have liked to have known this freak was out in our neighborhood. My daughter briefly mentioned something. But as a parent I didn't know anything. Shouldn't there be some kind of communication about this for parents of children. My gosh, what if he hurt one of my kids. He's a sick individual and I hope he spends a very long time behind bars. PROTECT OUR INNOCENT CHIDLREN!!! PUT HIM AWAY!!!!

Add a comment

Hide comments

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.