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'Secret' sex offender story getting attention

FOX 25 viewers are sounding off on FOX Undercover's revelations that two-thirds of all Level 1 sex offenders – those deemed a low risk to re-offend -- have been convicted of crimes against children is getting.

FOX Undercover's Mike Beaudet reported last night that 1,737 out of 2,693 Level 1 offenders have child sex offenses on their records. Because they are Level 1 offenders, the public cannot learn who they are or where they live or work, unlike Level 2 or 3 offenders.

The issue came under scrutiny most recently with the arrest late last year of John Burbine on allegations of horrific sex crimes against young children and infants he was supposed to be caring for. He was deemed a Level 1 offender despite three 1989 convictions of indecent assault and battery on a child.

On our website and Facebook, viewers are sounding off.

Here's a sampling:

Amanda Fox wrote, "Shame on the Hill for not acting faster to fix this problem!!!"

Robin Fowle wrote, "This is gross! Our children's safety should be priority, not the feelings of these sick criminals."

But Stacey Madison countered, "The type of offense committed does not necessarily reflect the likelihood of recidivism."

FOX 25 Morning News commentator Doug "VB" Goudie also weighed in Friday morning.

"Sixty-five percent of the Level 1 sex offenders in Massachusetts have sex crimes against children. You kidding me? I thought Level 1s were guys who were streaking at Mount Wachusett and somebody saw it and complained. No, it turns out they're sex crimes against kids. And it's 65 percent!" he said.

Two lawmakers who have filed bills on Beacon Hill to make information about Level one sex offenders available to the public say the numbers we obtained prove the system needs to change.