Missouri sex offender doesn't want to register in Kane County

A convicted child molester who plans to move to Kane County soon says he shouldn't have to register as a sex offender when he gets here.

Dennis Topolewski, 56, an inmate at the Farmington, Mo., Correctional Center, filed court papers this week arguing he should not have to register because the crimes he was convicted of in Missouri are not statutorally equivalent to crimes that require registration in Illinois.

Topolewski pleaded guilty in 2002 to charges of first-degree child molestation, sexual misconduct involving a child, third-degree assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. He says in an April 16 court petition that he plans to move in with family in Kane County in two months.

"None of (Topolewski's) offenses from the state of Missouri constitute a 'sex offense'" in Illinois, Topolewski's petition claims. It does not name the town where he plans to reside.

Kane County Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler said the state's attorney's civil division will represent the sheriff's office, which is named in the petition. Officials declined further comment.

Missouri state records show Topolewski is serving a 12-year prison sentence and is required to register as a sex offender in that state upon his release.

His Kane County petition goes before Judge Michael J. Colwell Aug. 23.