Two on sex offender list caught

October 23, 2008

Boston Globe

Two men on the state's list of Top 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders have been captured recently, cutting the number down to five offenders still wanted since the list was compiled in August.

In the latest arrests, one suspect was captured in Mexico, and another turned himself in to the Probation Department at Suffolk Superior Court.

Jelani Baker, 28, wanted by Somerville authorities, was arrested on robbery charges in Mexico City, and authorities in that country realized he was wanted here on warrants of failure to register as a sex offender, carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of marijuana, and lewd conduct. He is being held in New Jersey and expected to return to Massachusetts soon to face charges.

Baker had previously been convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child and lewd and lascivious conduct and was classified as a Level 3, or high-risk, offender by the Sex Offender Registry Board.

Another Level 3 offender, William E. Harvey III, 43, surrendered to probation officials on Monday. Harvey has been convicted of raping a child and was wanted for violating his probation and refusing to register as a sex offender. He was ordered held on $500,000 cash bail by a Suffolk Superior Court judge.

Baker and Harvey are the fourth and fifth offenders on the Top 10 list to be captured recently. On Oct. 10, Eric Conalty was captured in Texas after he was tracked by the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Unit. He was wanted on charges of committing unnatural acts with a child under 16 and failing to register as a sex offender.

Also on Oct. 10, Shayne Simpson, 48, turned himself in at Clinton District Court. He was wanted for violating conditions of his probation from a prior conviction of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/10/23/2_on_sex_offender_list_caught/