Sex offenders living in group homes -- they have to live somewhere when their prison sentence is up, but a Northshore council member says these homes need regulation.
St. Tammany Parish councilman Joe Impastato told WWL's Newell Normand these properties should not be considered simple apartments.
"It's not simply a rental house, its a business," said Impastato, "so they need to be addressed and dealt with as a business, and they need to be regulated and they need to meet certain requirements if they're going to be in St. Tammany Parish."
Impastato says he learned of these group homes' existence after a resident from one of them, Nicholas Tranchant, attacked a woman in a nearby laundromat. The would-be victim fought back and Tranchant died from stab wounds.
Impastato said he's bringing forward an ordinance to make sure there are rules.
"It's going to require one person per 1,000 square feet, it's a $5,000 permit fee, a million dollars of insurance is required, fencing is also required," Impastato said. He says the council should vote on it next month.
The laundromat where the assault happened burned down late Monday night.
