HOUSTON, Texas – The thought of living next door to a sexual assault offender is scary; but the truth is, the possibility is more likely than you think.
This week on KPRC 2 News, Anchor and Reporter Zach Lashway is examining the case of a 76-year-old who has been charged several times with sexually abusing a child, with the most recent charge coming in November 2024. Calvin Morris is currently accused of indecency with a child — sexual contact after allegedly grouping a 14-year-old boy who was walking to school.
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According to court records, Calvin Morris, who has two previous sexual abuse of a child charges, lived near a school, giving him easy access to children.
Despite being a predator, Morris was not registered as a sex offender. According to authorities, per the law, he didn’t have to register, and he free to live near a school.
How is this possible?
In Texas, the first sex offender registration laws took effect on Sept. 1, 1991. In 1997, the laws were made retroactive, requiring registration for those convicted of sex crimes on or after Sept. 1, 1970.
Registration is either 10 years or life, depending on the severity of the conviction. Registration only begins after the sentence is complete. If we assume Morris registered after his 1982 two-year-sentence, his registration requirement would have ended in 1994.
Who must register as a sex offender in Texas?
The list is long. But some of the most common include:
- Continuous sexual abuse of young children
- Bestiality
- Indecency with a child
- Sexual assault/Aggravated sexual assault
- Prohibited sexual conduct
- Aggravated promotion of prostitution
- Possession or promotion of child pornography
- Sexual performance by a child
- Indecent exposure
How long does a sex offender have to register?
Adult sex offenders who are not required to register for life must do so until 10 years after the latest of these events: the court dismisses the criminal case, they are released from prison, or they complete community supervision.
Child or teen sex offenders, who register due to an adjudication of delinquent conduct, must register until 10 years after their case is resolved or they complete the terms of their disposition, whichever comes later.
Those who register because of a conviction or deferred adjudication order in a juvenile case transferred to a district or criminal district court must register until 10 years after the latest of these events: they are released from prison, complete community supervision, or the court dismisses the criminal case and releases them.
Extrajurisdictional registrants must register until their registration requirement has expired under the laws of the foreign country where they were convicted, federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as applicable.
KPRC 2 spoke with former State Representative Jacey Jetton of Houston District 26, who believes current laws on sex offender registration are insufficient.
“I think one of the core responsibilities we have as legislators is to make sure that we’re protecting the public, especially the most vulnerable, and that includes our children, the minors, and those with disabilities, which is why we had the bill to expand it out to not only those with disabilities but really anyone, any vulnerable Texan that could potentially be compelled to prostitution or really human trafficking,” Jetton said.
Jetton authored House Bill 1136, which ultimately did not pass, but aimed to strengthen laws against sex offenders.
“When the bill was filed, it was only minors, that if you compelled them into prostitution, if you brought them into human trafficking, you know, sold them for sex, then they would end up being on the lifetime registry, a sex offender registry. And we wanted to expand that out to make sure that we were also protecting those who have disabilities and anyone in the general public that becomes a victim of human trafficking,” Jetton said.
Despite the bill’s failure, Jetton said he remains hopeful for new legislation that began on Jan. 14.
“My hope that coming this next legislative session there will be a Bill filed and that it’ll make it through the House and Senate and be signed by the governor in June to ensure that any Texan, regardless of age, if they are brought into human trafficking, if they’re compelled to prostitution, that they would also have that same guidelines that you’re on the sex offender list for the rest of your life,” Jetton said.
When asked if Texas could do a better job protecting children, Jetton stated, “I think we always have to continue to strive to protect our children more. You can’t put every child in a bubble. All we can do is continue to look at the laws that are in place and make sure that we have really the strictest punishment.”
