As we previously reported, the National Wrestling Alliance held a show June 1st at Karns High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. While at that show, I saw man identified to me by multiple people as Rick Michaels. I would later find out that Michaels' real name is Raymond Luther Rawls. I also found out Mr. Rawls is a convicted and still to this day registered sex offender in Georgia.
In previous reporting, I asserted that it seemed like to me (and others who I sought for legal opinion on the matter) that Mr. Rawls violated the Georgia Sex Offender Registry. Which it does have plain language prohibiting a registered sex offender from working at a school or in a place where minors congregate, which a wrestling show at a school would seem to constitute.
That point has been argued by some Rawls apologists including wrestling journalist Larry Goodman (Georgia Wrestling History Blog). The argument stems from the date of Rawls conviction.
As the Georgia Registry states "On and after July 1, 2008, no individual shall be employed by or volunteer at any child care facility, school, or church or by or at any business or entity that is located within 1,000 feet of a child care facility, a school, or a church if the commission of the act for which such individual is required to register occurred on or after July 1, 2008."
So those defending Mr. Rawls state that given the date of his conviction being 2005, that the registry code was indeed not violated. I have contacted the GBI Sex Offender Division and asked them to rule on whether a violation took place? I am still awaiting that response, as of the time of this report. It is very obvious here that Goodman and his ilk are looking for the date of offense as a loophole to defend Mr. Rawls being involved in pro wrestling.
While a concrete legal opinion from the State Of Georgia on this exact issue is awaited. I would like to retract my assertion that Mr. Rawls violated the Georgia Sex Offender Registry. Based on this date of conviction loophole, he may have not violated any law. However, had his conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor came a few years after 2005, the registry would be very clear. It seems to be a gray area here that is being operated in.
However, the main crux of this story remains, Raymond Rawls a convicted and registered sex offender in Georgia, worked for a national wrestling company on a TV taping that took place at a high school. Something, I think is note worthy and of interest to the public. Judging by the amount of traction that the previous article got, I would say I am validated in thinking that way.
Mr. Goodman (of Georgia Wrestling History Blog) also asserts that the date line of the conviction is how Mr. Rawls has continued to work for Georgia based wrestling promotions in the years since his conviction. The approach seems to be never mind what is right ethically and what isn't, as long as a loop hole can be found. It is in my mind an indictment on the people involved in Georgia Indy Wrestling that they continue to work with Mr. Rawls or Michaels regardless of the legal loop hole.
I have made a living in journalism for 17 years now, across the nation in various large and small markets. This is the 1st time I have ever seen a journalist such as Larry Goodman defend a convicted and registered sex offender.
So for argument's sake I will retract my assertion that Mr. Rawls violated the law of the Georgia and/or Tennessee Sex Offender Registry Code.
However, I see it as "smoke screen" or a diversion from the actual matter at hand which is that a registered and convicted sex offender has been allowed to work in an industry that many of its events are in schools and many of its fans are children. Something that defenders of Rick Michaels seem to skim over.
The National Wrestling Alliance has also not responded to any of my questions or requests for comment from them. However, they have reportedly cut ties with Mr. Michaels. The question remains did they know ahead of bringing him to work as part of the support staff, June 1st?
That is a question they have not answered, Goodman told me "People in the NWA had to have known". If that is the case, it appears that the NWA is only acting in reaction to the light that has been shined on them for working with a convicted and registered sex offender.
I have also reached out to Raymond Rawls himself. I have posed questions for him via email pertaining to this story, as of the time of this report, he has not responded to those questions.
While the law might be debatable in this case, I don't think there is any debate of what is right and wrong here. Personally, as a father who's child is a wrestling fan, I would never allow her to go to a wrestling event in which registered sex offenders are allowed to work for the promotion. I think most people would agree with that logic. The problem has now become we (the public) don't know which promotions are working with those offenders and which ones aren't. The only way we know is when light is shed on situations like this.
An industry that many of us became fans of as children, in my opinion should be a safe space for kids now. As my Grandmother used to say, "Just because something isn't illegal doesn't mean it should be done". I know that many people around Georgia Indy Wrestling were upset by the original article but ask yourself, why?
Were they upset that a light was shined in the darkness on a mainstream platform on an industry that seems at times to operate in the shadows?
I know that shining the light on this was the right thing to do, but it hasn't come without it share of backlash amongst those who defend Michaels. I am reminded of another saying from my Grandma, "The right thing to do isn't usually the easy thing to do". I honestly can't imagine as a parent being engaged in the argument of the loop hole on this and not the actual crux of the story.