Jerry Valdez, 68, is tracked as a sexually violent predator after an Oct. 28 conviction for attempted sexual assault on a child in Colorado, according to the bulletin. Valdez lives at 1125 11th St. and drives a gray Jeep Cherokee with Colorado plates bearing the numbers BESM30. He is not currently employed.
Valdez has also used the aliases “Terry,” “Larry Lee” and “Pete Michael,” according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Valdez is under supervision of the Colorado State Parole, with Parole Officer Dave Giron.
Colorado law requires local law enforcement to notify the community when a sexually violent predator will be moving into the community. Local law enforcement has no legal authority to prohibit sex offenders from living in a community, Greeley police noted in the bulletin.
As of today, there are nearly 20,000 registered sex offenders living in Colorado, 395 being registered with the Greeley Police Department. There are 303 offenders in the state who are tracked as sexually violent predators. Including Valdez, there are six living in Greeley:
Candelario Basaldua, 39, who reported this past week moving addresses to 1823 5th St., No. 42.
Edward Warren Bretz, 52, at 401 21st St.
Michael Lee Cowan, 44, at 328 16th St.
Eugene Joe Gonzales, 58, at 601 18th Ave.
Elliott Richard Jansma, 55, at 2512 14th Avenue Court.
In late July, 41-year-old Wayne Snelling moved out of Greeley less than a month after police announced his presence in a community bulletin.
For more information about local registered sex offenders, go to www.greeleygov.com/police, www.weldsheriff.com or www.sotar.us.
Those impacted by assault or trauma as a result of this notification may reach out to any of the following resources:
- Greeley Police Victim’s Services: (970) 351-5345
- Weld County Law Enforcement Victim’s Services: (970) 397-5935
- Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy (SAVA)-Greeley: (970) 506-4059
- SAVA-Fort Collins: (970) 472-4204
- SAVA-Crisis Line: (970) 472-4200
- A Kid’s Place: (970) 353-5970
Anyone with more questions about the bulletin may contact Greeley’s Sex Offender Registry Managers Sue Yoder, at (970) 350-9658, or Mark Stumpf, at (970) 350-9639.
With the bulletin, Greeley police shared the following safety tips for parents and their children:
- “Though well-meaning, the advice “don’t talk to strangers” is ill-conceived. Most children are sexually abused by someone they already know, be it a family friend, a neighbor, a babysitter, a coach — even a family member.
- Pedophiles are notoriously personable with children and will go out of their way to put a child at ease. Even a complete stranger who engages a youngster in a friendly conversation can quickly become someone the child “knows.”
- When talking to children, avoid scary tactics. Explain that most adults would never do anything to hurt a child; those who prey on children are the exception.
- Teach your child basic sex education, i.e., the areas of the body covered by a bathing suit are private. Molesters admit that a child’s innocent curiosity and/or ignorance make that child easier to abuse.
- Establish that sexual advances from adults are against the law. This gives children the confidence to assert themselves with adults who seek to abuse them.
- Do not instruct children to “give Uncle Jimmy a kiss” or “Give Aunt Susan a hug.” Allow children to express affection on their own terms.
- Develop strong communication skills with your children. Explain the importance of reporting abuse to you or another trusted adult.
- Stress that there should be no secrets from you, especially those involving another adult.
- Make a strong effort to know your children’s friends and their families.
- Volunteer to chaperone extracurricular activities like Boy Scouts and sporting events, especially those involving overnight trips.
- Do not rely entirely on “The Buddy System.” While it may make children (and parents) feel safer, its effectiveness is questionable. In many instances, sisters, brothers, and playmates have been raped abducted, and even murdered together.
- Make a commitment to spend more time with your child; the lonely and attention-starved child is an easy target.
- Instruct children never to go with or get in a car with anyone, unless you have given them direct permission
- Above all, encourage children to recognize, trust, and follow their instincts and listen to your own instincts. If a situation or person makes you or your child uneasy, believe in your feelings and act on them.
- Make your child familiar with the common lures used by child molesters and abductors.”
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