Toledo sex offender found guilty of failure to register

7/22/2008

A former St. Joan of Arc employee who was convicted of a sexually oriented offense in California nearly 20 years ago was convicted yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court of failing to register as a sex offender.

William Werner, 65, of 1615 Western Ave., pleaded guilty to failure to notify. He faces up to 18 months in prison when sentenced by Judge Gene Zmuda on Aug. 18.

Werner admitted yesterday that he was convicted in 1989 of a sexually oriented offense and while living in California for the next 10 years, had registered as a sex offender. According to Toledo Municipal Court records, he was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old.

He said that since moving to Ohio in 1999, he has failed to register as a sex offender.

Werner was a custodian at the parish on Heatherdowns Boulevard for five years and temporarily filled in for a custodian at the St. Joan of Arch parish school. The Catholic Diocese of Toledo fired him before discovering his sex-offender classification.

Werner remains in custody at the Lucas County jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.