Rapist Seeks $1 Million in Suit Over Megan’s Law

COSTA MESA —  A convicted rapist is challenging how police interpret Megan’s Law in a lawsuit alleging that fliers posted around his home portraying him as a “high-risk” sex offender violated his civil rights.

Chris Decker, convicted of rape 21 years ago, claims that his landlord violated his civil rights by giving him an eviction notice after police distributed the fliers to residents in the building.

Decker filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court against Robert Stellrecht Jr. and the Stellrecht Co. of Huntington Beach. Decker seeks $1 million in damages.

Megan’s Law requires those considered dangerous sex criminals to register with local law enforcement agencies and allows their names and general whereabouts to be made public.

Decker moved into the complex last December and the fliers were distributed Sept. 9.

The complaint says Megan’s Law sets penalties for using criminal data in a way that adversely affects the offender’s housing and “forbids any person from acting against a former offender who has been the target of Megan’s Law fliers,” said Decker’s attorney, T. Matthew Phillips.

In his complaint, Decker said that if forced to move, his credit record will be blemished by an eviction notice. He also said he will have a difficult time finding a new place to live because he has been branded since police distributed the flier.

Decker has also filed a claim against the city of Costa Mesa, and he plans to file a federal suit, Phillips said.

Megan’s Law stem from the 1994 murder of Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old New Jersey girl killed by a sex offender living in her neighborhood.