Angry and Fearful, Residents Demand Answers of Police Regarding Molester

NEWPORT BEACH — Residents packed the City Council chambers Wednesday night demanding answers from police about convicted child molester James Lee Crummel that they did not get.

Emotions reached a fever pitch when the stepfather of a San Bernardino County boy missing since August 1995 told the group that Crummel had been living near them at Big Bear Lake when the 9-year-old vanished. San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said Wednesday night that Crummel “is known” to them and that they will make an announcement today elaborating on the case of the San Bernardino County boy.

“We’ll probably never see our son again,” said Rod Cate, referring to Jack “J.D.” Phillips, who was last seen at a Big Bear campground.

The meeting was scheduled by Newport Beach police officials to handle a crush of community questions about Crummel. Police earlier this week had distributed more than 500 fliers with Crummel’s photo and criminal history describing him as a high-risk sex offender.

Nearly 150 neighbors expressed frustration and fear, saying they feel more vulnerable than ever knowing Crummel has been living anonymously among them off and on for the last 20 years.

They also demanded answers from police, particularly about Crummel’s criminal history, which spans 30 years and involves several child molestation convictions. Most wanted to know why the 53-year-old man is not being monitored, or how they could get him out of Newport Beach.

Police would not elaborate on his criminal history or say whether he is a suspect in other crimes.

Crummel was identified this week by Riverside County authorities as the hiker who found the remains of James “Jamie” Trotter, a 13-year-old Costa Mesa boy missing since 1979. Riverside County officials have not identified Crummel as a suspect in that case, but said they are talking to him.

Crummel said Wednesday that he has not “been charged with anything, an I’m not going to be.”

At the meeting Wednesday, Lillian Ballard, who lives in the same Newport Crest condominium complex as Crummel, said, “It’s despicable, and I want to make him so uncomfortable that he moves far, far away.”

Said neighbor Ted Beresford: “It’s like that bumper sticker that says, ‘I carry a gun three days a week. . . . Guess what three.’ I feel like we’re living next to a time bomb. We have no idea what he’ll do next.”

Although the Newport Beach Police Department became the third in Orange County to take advantage of the state’s new “Megan’s Law,” which allows officials to notify neighbors of high-risk sex offenders, some residents were angry they weren’t told sooner. Police Chief Robert J. McDonell said that while the law took effect Jan. 1, his department was notified only recently that Crummel was classified as “high risk.”

“We moved as quickly as possible to give you that warning,” McDonell said. “And we’ll continue to do that because I think it’s prudent and it’s what the community wants.”

Some neighbors, however, said they have seen undercover police officers in the Newport Crest complex for the last few months. One longtime resident, Jayne Crowfoot, said she called police about a week ago to report two men who were lingering in the area, but police told her not to worry because they were undercover officers. Crowfoot said she had seen the pair several times in the last month.

Crummel said he also believes that police are monitoring him, but that he doesn’t mind it.

“It’s better for me that they’re following me, because then they know I’m doing nothing wrong,” he said from his doorway.

McDonell, however, wouldn’t say whether police have been in the area to watch Crummel, which angered some neighbors.

“Why the hell wouldn’t we have been told three months ago when they started staking this guy out?” said Tony Singer, who lives about three blocks from Crummel.

Other residents who live in the upscale complex broke down in tears while talking about Crummel.

“I’ve been seeing this guy for five years and I am scared to death,” said a sobbing Julie Wisniewski, who lives across the street from Crummel. Her husband, Jim Wisniewski, said he has chatted with Crummel over the years and considered him a harmless, friendly neighbor.

“If I am an adult, and I can’t see what this guy is hiding, how can I expect my kids to?” Wisniewski asked, drawing applause.

Times staff writer Geoff Boucher contributed to this report.