Megan’s Law hearing canceled

State Supreme Court taking up issue of sex offender registration May 23

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County Senior Judge Timothy M. Sullivan won't be hearing arguments today on the constitutionality of the state's law requiring sex offenders to regularly register their addresses and other information with state police.

Because the state Supreme Court is taking up the constitutional issue on May 23 when it reviews a Chester County case, today's hearing before Sullivan was canceled.

Decisions by the state Supreme Court, expected after the May 23 arguments in Commonwealth v. Torsilieri, are likely to be influential on Blair County cases.

Attorneys representing George J. Torsilieri, a convicted sex offender, are attempting to get the state high court to affirm a decision by a Chester County judge who found the state's Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act to be unconstitutional.

In pursuit of that ruling, Torsilieri's defense attorneys presented experts who described the law as unfairly broad because it sets registration requirements for sex offenders like Torsilieri who showed little risk of reoffending.

In anticipation of the May 23 hearing before the state Supreme Court, several non-party organizations have filed briefs to comment on the issue.

The case docket shows briefs filed by state police, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the Pennsylvania Office of Victim Advocate and the Joseph J. Peters Institute of Philadelphia.

The institute's website indicates that it treats those suffering from the effects of sexual abuse and those with a history of sexual misconduct and offenses.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.