Registered Sex Offender Obtains Job as Union Leader
Jaime E. Feliciano, SEIU Local 1000 District Labor Council 784 president, was arrested September 9 on charges of suspicion of possessing child pornography and violating his probation as a registered sex offender. He was convicted in 1993 for a lewd or lascivious act with a child under the age of 14 years, which is a felony.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department received a tip from police in Reno that Feliciano allegedly had inappropriate contact with a juvenile there. This information was turned over to a high-tech crime task force, who then initiated a compliance check at Feliciano's home as he is on probation. While searching his home, the task force found thousands of pornographic pictures of children on his computer.
In trying to discover the union's stand on this incident, we discovered their website (http://www.dlc784.org/) has been temporarily disabled. The union represents employees at various state agencies such as the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Social Services.
The union's spokesman, Jim Zamora, did issue a statement via email which stated that Feliciano was elected by his fellow workers and other nearby agencies. The position was unpaid. He went on to say that no background check or criminal-records search of internal candidates for union elections has ever been required.
The statement went on to say:
"Obviously this case raises the issue that perhaps more vetting should be done in the future. That is something that would be reviewed by Local 1000 attorneys, our president and other senior leaders. But at this time, everyone is waiting to learn more about the criminal investigation.
He was first elected in late May and was sworn into office in mid-July. The only major meetings he attended as an elected official were on the July weekend he was sworn in. (Local 1000's main council meets 4 times a year) Prior to his election in June, I'm not sure how active he was in Local 1000 or how well known he was to workers outside of his colleagues at the Department of Insurance. His elected position did not put him in contact with children or teenagers."
The union plans on removing him from his position and banning him from membership. We were able to obtain Feliciano's criminal record in a matter of minutes. One hopes that in the future, this union will institute background checks as part of their employment and election process.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department received a tip from police in Reno that Feliciano allegedly had inappropriate contact with a juvenile there. This information was turned over to a high-tech crime task force, who then initiated a compliance check at Feliciano's home as he is on probation. While searching his home, the task force found thousands of pornographic pictures of children on his computer.
In trying to discover the union's stand on this incident, we discovered their website (http://www.dlc784.org/) has been temporarily disabled. The union represents employees at various state agencies such as the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Social Services.
The union's spokesman, Jim Zamora, did issue a statement via email which stated that Feliciano was elected by his fellow workers and other nearby agencies. The position was unpaid. He went on to say that no background check or criminal-records search of internal candidates for union elections has ever been required.
The statement went on to say:
"Obviously this case raises the issue that perhaps more vetting should be done in the future. That is something that would be reviewed by Local 1000 attorneys, our president and other senior leaders. But at this time, everyone is waiting to learn more about the criminal investigation.
He was first elected in late May and was sworn into office in mid-July. The only major meetings he attended as an elected official were on the July weekend he was sworn in. (Local 1000's main council meets 4 times a year) Prior to his election in June, I'm not sure how active he was in Local 1000 or how well known he was to workers outside of his colleagues at the Department of Insurance. His elected position did not put him in contact with children or teenagers."
The union plans on removing him from his position and banning him from membership. We were able to obtain Feliciano's criminal record in a matter of minutes. One hopes that in the future, this union will institute background checks as part of their employment and election process.
Labels: registered sex offender, sex offender, union leader arrested
posted by JenWiehl at 1:35 PM
12 Comments:
When something like this comes out, it makes the union look bad. Hopefully they will start instituting background checks for their leaders!
Union schmunion.
It's not bad enough that unions are full of Socialists...now they cater to child molesters too? Way to go!
I'm glad that in defending themselves, they are sure to mention that this guy was not working with children or teenagers. Phew! I feel much better now!
Wow! I don't understand how so may of these Sex Offenders slip through the cracks.
And guess what else? He lives down the street from a suburban day care center.
They didn't think that any sort of vetting was prudent for a leadership position? Hmmmm...
What a mess. You would hope that they would correct the problem rather than make excuses.
It's amazing how some people nerver learn their lesson. He was convicted for lewd acts with a minor under 14....This dude is ridiculous, they found pics of children in his computer....I hope he gets locked up for life. No mercy for this idiot!
I saw this on the news. Can't believe a union of this size and power doesn't know to do background checks. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW HARD IS IT TO DO A BACKGROUND CHECK---GET REAL--KNOW YOUR PEOPLE.
Protect our unions, check our leaders.
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