A violent and convicted sexual predator who had been allowed out of prison has found himself back behind bars. Since his arrest, at least one woman has come forward to claim that he attacked her while he had been released.
The Sheriff’s Office doesn’t know if there are other victims out there.
“You are safe now,” Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a public plea to potential victims. “He cannot hurt you.”
The latest victim only came forward after seeing her attacker was arrested for violating his probation.
John Edward Reese, now 48, was convicted in 1997 of violently attacking and raping two women and served 17 years of his 20-year sentence. For the last four years, he has been on probation with GPS monitoring.
As part of his release, Reese was subject to random checks from law enforcement to ensure compliance, according to the Sheriff’s Office. On Jan. 4, he failed one of those checks – he had missed curfew. He was arrested a few days later.
His arrest was listed in a crime blotter in a local publication and was spotted by a woman who has told authorities she was attacked by Reese.
“As a result of that listing, a brave woman came forward and stated that she too had been raped by Reese and only now felt safe to report it after seeing he was in jail,” Mascara said. “She stated that he had repeatedly threatened her life and the lives of her children.”
Sheriff Mascara said the woman contacted the Department of Corrections, which then contacted the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the attack.
“They were scared,” said Sgt. Suzanne Woodward of the most recent victim.
“They felt safe to report the attack once he was arrested on the violation of probation,” she said, adding that she’s not sure the victim would have come forward otherwise. “They were scared. They remain scared even though he is in jail. They feel better about it, but they are scared, very scared, very emotional. The threat to their family was very real to the victim and they had no reason to believe he wouldn’t carry out his threats.”
Reese’s first victims were in Martin County, according to the Sheriff’s Office. When he moved to St. Lucie County following his release from prison was not immediately known. However, Sheriff Mascara said that as soon as the agency learned of his relocation to the county, he called residents within a 1-mile radius to notify them of the sexual predator. “Guys like this are on all our radars,” Mascara said.
“That’s always a possibility,” said Sgt. Woodward of sexual predators who re-offend. She added that is why there is a classification of “sexual predator” that provides more levels of protection for the community.
“As part of this investigation, I want to ask for the public’s help,” Mascara said. “If anyone has ever been threatened, attacked or abused by John Edward Reese, please call our detectives.”
“You are now safe,” he said. “He cannot harm you and we need your help in putting this violent offender behind bars so he can’t hurt anyone else.”
Sgt. Woodward added that any other potential victims need not worry about the statute of limitations – the clock doesn’t start ticking until the initial report is made.
“You are safe to come forward,” she said. “I promise you, we will protect you.”
Reese faces a new charge of sexual battery, according to the Sheriff’s Office, along with the violation of his probation. If convicted on the new charge, he faces up to a life sentence in prison.
If you believe you might be a potential victim of Reese or know someone who might be, call the Sheriff’s Office at 772-462-3220.
