TRACKING SEX OFFENDERS
Published in the October 25, 2025 issue.
A tip from a reader recently alterted the Sheet to an aspect of state housing law that upset her. She believed there were three registered sex offenders living in low-income housing in Mammoth Lakes.
The inquiry begs several questions: are sex offenders allowed to live in affordable housing? How many sex offenders live nearby? And how are they monitored?
State law (SB 1380) mandates affordable housing programs adopt a “Housing First” model. In this model, applicants are not rejected due to “criminal convictions unrelated to tenancy,” according to a statement from the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Eastern Sierra Community Housing “has to use that methodology for leasing,” Nolan Bobroff, Mammoth Lakes community and economic development Director said.
According to the Megan’s Law website, there are six registered sex offenders currently living in Mammoth Lakes. The website includes pictures of these people, their address, and a risk rating, meaning how likely they are to commit another sex crime.
“The police department has a process in place for monitoring our registered offenders,” Sergeant Jason Heilman said.
Most of these individuals are currently abiding by the law, meaning they re-register annually, on their birthdays, with the Mammoth Lakes Police Department.
There is a 2008 active felony warrant for the arrest of Juan Luis Camargo, the only registered sex offender in Mammoth Lakes in violation of the law.
“It’s possible that person is not even in the area anymore,” Heilman said.
The MLPD has assigned each of the compliant offenders to a member of their Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Heilman explained. These SART officers perform routine home check-ins with the offender. Currently, four MLPD officers are a part of the SART team.
“One of our biggest things is to make sure that [sex offenders] are residing at the address they provide,” Heilman stressed. “One way to do that is through home visits.”
If a sex offender is on parole or probation as a result of their conviction, the MLPD will do parole or probation compliance in addition to the home check-ins. In certain cases, an offender may not be subject to searches, which limits the MLPD’s alternatives.
