Registering Hysteria

A series of crazy mistakes led to an innocent Maryland man being treated as a sex offender by neighbors and police who tried to run him out of town. His crime? Falling asleep in his own car and once living in the same house that a registered sex offender had previously lived in. This story is Exhibit A on how sex offender registries and the hysteria over child molesters is getting out of hand. Why not just burn suspected sex offenders at the stake and be done with it?

"It blew me away that a federal agent was sticking a badge in my face. Three agents, dog -- like I'm the ringleader!" said Haskett, 28, of Mount Airy.

After allaying the concerns of several law enforcement officials over the past few weeks, Haskett also asked them what he could do to clear his name.

"They said the best bet is to leave the area," Haskett said.

Haskett has no criminal record and has not been accused of wrongdoing, according to public court records and law enforcement officials.