NC sex offender’s lawsuit: satellite tracking unconstitutional

FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — A convicted sex offender says in a federal lawsuit that it’s unconstitutional for authorities to use satellites to keep track of his movements.

The lawsuit filed by 30-year-old Jay Usategui of Hope Mills challenges a state law enacted last year. His lawsuit says the monitoring unlawfully restricts his movements and subjects him to
public ridicule.

The program monitors 114 offenders carry 2-pound satellite tracking devices that sound an alarm if an offender goes to an off-limits location. The lawsuit says the device sends false
alerts.

Authorities charged Usategui in 2003 with statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty to taking indecent liberties with a child, communicating a threat and false imprisonment.

His lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)