Sex offender arrested

Sex Offenders are required by Megan's law to register with the local police department within five days of their move. The police keep a data base with information about the offenders which is available to the public.

San Mateo has an active registration program, according to San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer. "We go out and talk to them and make sure they are living where they say they are living," she said.

San Mateo Detective Sgt. John Minahan said LeCorno, 51, had been living and working in San Francisco then moved to San Mateo.

The San Francisco Police Department was first alerted when they realized LeCorno was not living at his registered home. They later discovered he was living in the Mariner's Island neighborhood and contacted local authorities.

San Mateo police detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence and arrested LeCorno.

LeCorno is currently in custody and will most likely face a felony conviction for violating the sex registration laws.

LeCorno was originally arrested for sexual assault on children in the state of Washington.

Minahan said registered sex offenders are placed in three categories : high risk sex offenders, serious offenders and other. He said most of the cases are categorized as serious. Until his last week arrest, LeCorno was one of two offenders in the state of California labled as a "high risk sexually violent predator."

"We make disclosures about offenders if we feel there are people at risk," Minahan said. "With high risk offenders there is more flexibility with the law in terms of making a disclosure."

Minahan said for the "others" category there are more restrictions in making disclosures.

"We do a lot more than most counties," Minahan said. "We make sure [the sex offenders] are abiding by laws, we interview them, sit down with them and make sure they live and work where they say they do."

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