Rochester Police Department
FACT SHEET
NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE IN MINNESOTA
RISK LEVEL THREE: In addition to level two notification (schools and daycares as well as establishments and Organizations that primarily serve individuals likely to be victimized by the offender), law enforcement may notify other members of the community whom the offender is likely to encounter.
The Rochester Police Department is available to provide you with useful information on personal safety. The Rochester Police Department may he reached at (507) 285-8303. To report criminal activity by this offender or any other individual, please call 911.
OID: 200851
SHANNON MICHAEL BENSON
DOB: 09/14/1979
Race: White
Height: 5’10”
Weight 168 lbs
Complexion: Fair
Hispanic: No
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Build: Medium
Registration statute(s): 609.344 (3 counts) (1995-1998)
Investigating agency: St. Peter Police Department
Rochester Police Department
Release date: 8-05-2007
Supervision agent: N/A sentence expired
Offense: Offender has history of engaging in sexual contact with victims (juvenile males and females.) Contact has included fondling, exposure, and penetration. Offender has used manipulation and force to gain compliance. Offender was known to victims.
Address: residence in Faribault County, and is attending school at Rochester Community and Technical College. Date of address change: 8-5-2007
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The Rochester Police Department is releasing this information pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 244.052. This statute authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sexual or predatory offender’s release from prison or a secure treatment facility when that Rochester Police Department believes that the release of information will enhance public safety and protection.
The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct or another offense that requires registration with law enforcement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 243.166 or 243. 167.
This offender is not wanted by the police at this time and has served the sentence imposed on him/ her by the court. This notification is not intended to increase fear in the community. Law enforcement believes that an informed public is a safer public.
The Rochester Police Department, the supervising release agent, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections may NOT direct where the offender does or does not reside, nor can these agencies direct where he/ she works or goes to school. The risk level of this offender has been determined based largely on his/ her potential to re-offend based on his/ her previous criminal behavior.
Convicted sexual and predatory offenders have always been released to live in our communities. It was not until the passage of the Registration Act that law enforcement had the ability to track the movement of these offenders after their initial release.
With the passage of the Community Notification Act law enforcement may now share information about many of these offenders with the public Abuse of this information to to threaten, harass or intimidate a registered offender is unacceptable and such acts could he charged as a crime. Such abuses could potentially end the ability of law enforcement to provide these notifications. If community notification ends the only person who wins is the offender. Many of these offenders derive their power from the opportunity that secrecy provides.
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