Concerns Continue Around Level 3 Sex Offender Hanging Around Town

In response to frequent inquires and sightings of a Level 3 sex offender in various places around town, Lexington Police recently circulated the Waltham man’s detail flyer to Lexington Center businesses, schools, the town’s Recreation Department and other organizations.

Reported sightings of William Lafauci around Center Field prompted the Lexington United Soccer Club to include a note about it in a Sept. 15 memo about player safety. And then on Tuesday, the Bridge School's PTA sent an email to parents reporting Lafauci approached two kids on their way to Bridge Elementary School, WBZ reported Sept. 25.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story attributed the letter to the Lexington Public Schools. That has been corrected after Patch reached out to Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash. You can find the full text of the letter below.

According to police Lafauci is known to ride his bicycle into Lexington Center and hang around the area, sometimes watching soccer games and practices. And these things are all within his rights, police said.

The 57-year-old Lafauci has multiple convictions for open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior and one for indecent assault and battery on a child younger than 14 – all from the 1990s. However, having served his time, Lafauci does not have restrictions that preclude him from spending time around town, or around people, for that matter, police said.

According to the WBZ report, some communities place limits on how close sex offenders can be to schools and parks, and the fact that Lexington does not have such a law is unsettling for some parents.

 “Do we really want to wait for an event or do we put something in place?” one parent reportedly asked the news station.

WBZ also reported that Lafauci told the station he has gone through counseling, he has "cleaned up his act in the last 20 years and that being a sex offender is like 'wearing a Scarlet Letter.'”

Here's the text of the PTA's letter:

Staying Safe and Informed:

Over the past few weeks, a Level 3 sexual offender has been seen in various places in Lexington: at Starbucks, Dunk'in Donuts, the ball field, etc.  Yesterday morning two Bridge students were approached on their way to school (on Spring Street) by this man. The mother of one of the children caught up to the kids, recognized the person, and wrapped up the conversation.

Although the man has done nothing illegal and, according to the Lexington police "there are no legal restrictions on the person in question", we did want you to be aware that he has approached Bridge students and engaged them in conversation. The Lexington Police are aware of the situation and will investigate any claims of wrongdoing, but want citizens to know that, "It is very important for police officers and local citizens to refrain from saying or doing anything that may violate another person's civil rights."

In light of this situation, Principal Colella has been in contact with her staff and has suggested that Open Circles take place concerning what students should do in the event that a stranger approaches them and stranger safety in general.

We are also exploring various avenues and/or programs that could be presented to the school community to further educate and safeguard our students. As a family, you may want to discuss stranger safety and what to do in such situations.

Attached is a link to the State's public information on this individual. Please read it to stay informed.  We hope that this information is useful to ensure the safety of Bridge students and to quell any rumors.  

Justine Wirtanen and Rebecca Moore
Bridge PTA Co-Presidents