MARSHFIELD – Parents and others in the greater Plainfield-Marshfield area have taken issue with the recent presence of a registered sex offender on school properties, taking action by circulating a petition addressed to Vermont lawmakers.
The petition, authored by area advocate Laura Dailey, states, “In Vermont, an alarming scenario unfolds as a convicted sex offender, previously a school bus driver, continues to have access to public school properties.This offender was released early and because his current girlfriend’s child attends the school, he is allowed to pick up the child and be present on school grounds. To make matters worse, some of his victims, who attend the same school, have encountered him there, causing further trauma to individuals already gravely affected by his actions.The court and his probation officer maintain he has changed, but the horrific memories and emotional scars he inflicted linger, severely impacting his victims.”
In 2020, Douglas Hersey was convicted of sexual assault of a victim under 16 and human trafficking.
According to WCAX, Hersey, of Plainfield, met the 15-year-old victim back in 2018 through a Craigslist post and arranged to meet her on multiple occasions for sexual acts. The former EMT and bus driver continued his grooming of the victim after she turned 16, intending to recruit her as an escort to engage in sex acts with other men for money.
Hersey was convicted of sexual assault of a victim under 16 and human trafficking, and sentenced to 12.5 to 25 years, all but seven years were suspended. Hersey was released early, serving at least five years. This was the first conviction on a human trafficking charge in Washington County.
According to the Vermont Crime Information Center, the state of Vermont places no restrictions on sex offenders once they have completed their supervision with the Department of Corrections.
Notably, inclusion on the Vermont Sex Offender Registry (VTSOR) does not automatically come with a requirement to proactively notify members of the public. In short, registrants are legally able to reside near schools and day-cares, cohabitate with children and be on school properties, unless prohibited by a judge in their parole conditions.
The petition argues that sex offenders, whether currently or previously listed on the registry, should not have the privilege to access spaces where children are present.
“The safety and mental well-being of our children must be prioritized over leniencies granted to those with a history of such grievous crimes. It’s imperative that the State of Vermont takes robust action to mitigate the risk and trauma inflicted on the young minds and families within our communities,” Dailey wrote.
“This petition calls for the implementation of strict policies which ban all convicted sex offenders from entering public school properties under any circumstance. Additionally, we seek to prohibit these individuals from residing in homes where minors under 18 are present. These measures are critical to safeguarding our children and ensuring that their educational environments remain secure and supportive,” she continued.
Dailey says that despite changes the offender may claim to have undergone, the potential risk and emotional distress posed to victims are too significant to overlook. “By adopting these necessary restrictions, we can prevent unnecessary encounters between offenders and victims, fostering a safe and nurturing environment for our youth,” she concluded.
Dailey, a longtime advocate for victims of sexual abuse, was made aware of the matter after Hersey’s ex-wife, Twinfeild employee Elisha Davis, spotted Hersey on school property. Dailey says Hersey’s girlfriend’s child attends Twinfield
“He lives now in Marshfield, and his girlfriend’s child attends Twinfield. So he was able to go to Twinfield to pick up his girlfriend’s child at the public school, and get permission from his parole officer because it’s not his conditions of release, and if it’s not specifically stated there, it’s okay for them to be on public property including schools,” she explained.
Dailey continued, “His former wife … she works at Twinfield and the daughter attends Twinfield, so he saw his ex-wife and daughter, who both consider themselves his victims as well, at the school while picking up his girlfriend’s child.”
According to Dailey, this prompted Davis to reach out to Hersey’s parole officer, who confirmed Hersey is not prohibited from being on school properties according to the conditions of his release.
Of the petition, Davis said, “I think the petition is great, all of our schools should have something in place to protect our children.”
Dailey says having seen Davis post her concerns on social media, she was familiar with the situation. Asking further questions, Dailey conducted some research into state law regarding registered offenders. She was surprised by her findings, thus prompting the creation of the petition.
Davis too was surprised to learn that unless specified by a judge, registered sex offenders are allowed on school properties and more, “We’re protecting offenders more than our victims, and it’s shocking. Hopefully this petition will do what it’s supposed to do.”
A longtime advocate, Calais resident Dailey says she is actively fighting the war against child abuse.
A victim-turned-advocate, Dailey is familiar with the challenges for victims of sexual abuse. “I went through incredible circumstances, because it was my word against his, to prove that he actually did what he did and get him convicted, and keep him away from kids,” she said,
“It’s always been a mission of mine since I was young, since it happened to me, and I found my voice to try and fight for other peoples.”
Ultimately, Dailey hopes this petition is the start of major changes to state regulations regarding the sex offender registry, “My hope is to get lawmakers to look at that as kind of a loophole. I believe it should be standard on conditions of release, for any sex offender, especially one on the registry, that’s been convicted to have a condition that they cannot be on school property.”
To view the petition visit bit.ly/4rKBVOR
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story stated that Hersey has served five years, but he may have served longer. Another minor immaterial grammatical error was corrected.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
