Nothing to fear? Sex offender paroled to Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (KTVU) - A high-risk sex offender, paroled to Fairfield, says no one has anything to fear from him.

Thursday, police issued a community alert concerning 79-year-old Juarez Demitris, who left prison April 30 after serving 25 years for multiple convictions on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child and lewd and lascivious acts with a child.   

"I don't want to go back to prison again," Demitris told KTVU, at the door of his motel room. "I learned my lesson the hard way, not the easy way."

Demitris' mug shot has been publicized by Fairfield Police, under the provisions of Megan's Law. 

"Right now, he's considered high risk," Sgt. Matt Bloesch told KTVU, "and we understand that nobody wants someone with these convictions living next to them. But our responsibility is just to notify people."

Desk clerks at the Gateway Inn on North Texas Street say they had no idea they were renting a room to a sex offender.

"No problems, nothing," they told KTVU, "he's quiet."

Demetris paid $1,700 for a three-week stay.

He has no car, but says he goes out with friends.

"This is a business, so it's putting us in jeopardy," complained a hotel maid, "because there's probably people out there who want to kill him."

Demetris described his victim as a young female relative, thirteen years old at the time, and said he received treatment in prison to curb his predatory behavior.

"I told them I would not do it again," he declared, "because the trouble, it happened because I'd been drinking, that's why."

He blames booze, and there are plenty of bars and liquor stores on the commercial corridor where he's staying.

Demetris wears an ankle monitor and has a parole officer checking in, but otherwise moves about freely. 

"That's not good, not good, because I have a daughter," neighbor Felicia Williams told KTVU, pointing out apartment complexes with children nearby.

"They have to go somewhere , but knowing he's right there is weird," agreed neighbor Anissa Steele, " especially since I have a five-year-old daughter. "

Pressed on whether he remains a danger to children, Demetris replied, "I don't believe so, I don't think so."

He plans to remain in Solano County where he has a brother, for a few years, then move to Fresno when his parole ends.

Each hotel stay is limited to thirty days, so for the immediate future, he will move between them, re-registering with police each time his address changes.

Demetris says his source of income is a pension from his years working in a local cemetery.