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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The South Bend Tribune attempted to defend convicted child molesters and rapists in a ridiculous article written by reporter Jordan Smith on Wednesday by pointing out it had been 20 years since some of them had raped or molested a child.
The article comes as the City of South Bend looks to expand a failed homeless shelter program into the Northwest part of the city. An investigative report by REAL News Michiana earlier this week showed the program known as Motels4Now currently houses five convicted sex offenders and employs one other. All but one of the sex offenders spent time in prison for crimes against children. Only four of the sex offenders are from St. Joseph County — appearing to show the program is making South Bend a destination for homeless rapists.
Using information uncovered in RNM’s report, several business owners and elected officials held a news conference to voice their objection to the program’s expansion which is being pushed by South Bend Mayor James Mueller and other St. Joseph County Democrats.
The headline for Smith’s article sets the tone for his obvious defense of child rapists: “St. Joseph County officials invoke sex offenders to oppose South Bend homeless shelter.”
Smith makes several statements to justify the city moving multiple sex offenders into the Northwest part of town by claiming Republican officials are attempting to “stoke fears about the shelter moving to a new site… County officials did not, however, note that there are already nine sex offenders registered within a mile of the proposed site on the 3000 block of Bendix Drive.”
Smith then stated four of the convicted rapists and pedophiles “were convicted more than 20 years ago.”
Smith also quoted the Motels4Now Director Sheila McCarthy, who appeared to issue the public a veiled threat if they oppose the housing and importing sex offenders in their neighborhoods.
“Their response will be to disappear from anything official and terrorize your home and business because you have not made it possible for them to live.” Smith quoted McCarthy saying.
SEX OFFENDERS AT MOTELS4NOW
On Monday, an investigative report by RNM found a total of six registered sex offenders associated with Motels4Now. Five of the sex offenders currently live there. One sex offender lists the address as his employer. It also appears the “low-barrier” program is attracting out-of-town rapists interested in receiving services. According to the Indiana Sex Offender Registry, one sex offender is from Allen County, one is from Michigan and two are from Elkhart County. Only two of the sex offender residents at Motels4Now are from St. Joseph County. REAL News Michiana has put together a photo gallery of all of the sex offenders, the sex crimes they were convicted of and where their conviction occurred.
One of the latest sex offender residents of Motels4Now is 41-year-old Rusty Joe Sakshaug. Sakshaug has done two stints in prison for sex crimes. He was most recently released from prison for Criminal Sexual Conduct in 2022 and, prior to moving to South Bend, was living in Mount Pleasant, Michigan — more than a three hour drive from South Bend. It’s unclear why he moved to South Bend, however, many critics believe the Motels4Now facility is attracting out-of-town homeless criminals seeking services and shelter.
SOUTH BEND CITY OFFICIALS LOOK TO EXPAND
Motels4Now is what is called a “low-barrier” homeless shelter, meaning there are very few limits on who is allowed into the program. It also has no restrictions on drug or alcohol use attached to services.
The plan to expand the homeless initiative was done mostly in secret by City of South Bend leaders with no input from residents or business owners. The facility would be located on a piece of property off of Bendix Drive just north of the South Bend Community School Corporation’s school bus garage. The parcel is currently owned by the South Bend Community School Corporation.
Plans for the new facility started to come to light during a South Bend Community School Corporation Board meeting last Monday where the board voted to approve the sale of the plot to the City. The next step was to have the South Bend Redevelopment Commission approve the purchase at a meeting just days later.
While city officials did not notify any of the stakeholders of the plan or meeting, Republican County Council Members and County Commissioners caught wind and made notifications to as many business owners as they could — mounting an overwhelming opposing presence at at the Redevelopment Commission meeting. Members of the commission then voted unanimously to table the issue to a later date.
Mayor James Mueller has since criticized any opposition by also defending the importing of sex offenders to the city.
“These bad-faith political attacks on homeless service providers and our most vulnerable residents are a new low from County Republicans.” Mueller wrote in a statement to the media, defending child rapists. “This right-wing witch hunt against Motels4Now does not reflect South Bend Values and is a distraction from finding real solutions. South Bend values people over politics, compassion over cruelty, and proven solutions like housing first over extremism.”
HOTBED FOR CRIME
In January of last year, an RNM investigation uncovered major crime and drug problems with the Motels4Now program. A public records request by REAL News Michiana discovered the “low-barrier” facility has been the scene of countless drug overdoses, thefts and batteries, while purporting to be helping those most in need in our community. Records show more than 1,000 calls for service to the location in just a couple of years. Several businesses have also closed down or moved because of the issues brought by the program — including a McDonalds.
In 2022 alone, police were called to the Motels4Now property for the following crimes:
Assault: 17 Calls
Theft: 15 Calls
Disturbance: 15 Calls
Overdose: 14 Calls
Threat: 10 Calls
Suspicious Activity: 8 Calls
Fighting: 4 Calls
Burglary: 3 Calls
Weapons: 3 Calls
Shots Fired: 3 Calls
Harassment: 3 Calls
Vandalism: 2 Calls
Stabbing: 1 Call
Sex Assault: 1 Call
Drugs: 1 Call
RNM discovered two overdose deaths related to the property in early 2023. According to publicly available records, 58-year-old Kevin Taylor died from a cocaine overdose at Motels4Now on January 29th. Weeks later, another man who “graduated” from the Motels4Now program died from a suspected overdose while living in another transitional home owned by Our Lady of the Road, the non-profit organization that runs the Motel4Now Program.
The criminal impact just off the property has also been of major concern. Earlier this year, RNM published a story about a single mother having to hold one man from the facility at gunpoint when he attempted to break into her home.
In a typical circumstance, a property like this would be considered a “nuisance property” facing several costly fines with the potential of being shut down. Motels 4 Now has received no such citations.
City officials are planning a community meeting regarding the proposal for the new facility at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 1st, at the Beacon Resource Center located at 4210 Lincoln Way West, South Bend.
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Idiot.
This “reporter” is a joke and deserves to be fired