Homeless sex offender on the way to Whidbey

A homeless convicted sex offender whom Island County Sheriff Mike Hawley considers a high risk to reoffend is probably moving back to Whidbey Island.

Johnny Alan Goff Sr., 45, entered a guilty plea in Island County Superior Court on Aug. 18, 2000, to the charge of second-degree child molestation.

Hawley said Goff has served his sentence and is not wanted by law enforcement. Goff’s victim was his girlfriend’s 12-year-old daughter.

According to the Island County Sheriff’s Office, the molestation started in December 1999 and continued until June 2000. Goff reportedly abused his victim on numerous occasions, while other family members were asleep or otherwise absent from their living room, which also doubled as the victim’s bedroom. He had lived with the family for seven years.

It was Goff’s second conviction of a sex crime. On May 19, 1986, he was convicted in Callahan County, Texas of sexual abuse of a child, involving a minor under 17.

The Island County Sheriff’s Office classified Goff as a Level 3 sex offender, defined as “a high risk to re-offend.” A state committee made a less-threatening Level 2 assessment, but Hawley said his classification board did not agree “because Goff will be homeless on Whidbey Island with extremely limited supervision.”

Sheriff’s office spokesperson Jan Smith said Goff will be released from prison on Tuesday. He is required to register as a sex offender with the sheriff’s office within 48 hours of arriving on Whidbey Island.

A public information meeting to discuss Goff’s presence in the community will be held Monday at 5 p.m. in the Island County Courthouse Annex, Sixth and Main St., Coupeville.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.