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Could you unknowingly be living next to a sex offender?

Posted at 8:54 AM, Aug 03, 2015
and last updated 2015-08-03 19:19:01-04

Norfolk, Va. - Memories of childhood sexual abuse haunt a woman.  She didn`t want to be identified because of her current job.

She says a man who was supposed to be caring for her was violating her sexually when she was around the age of 6.

30 years later, she says she`s still traumatized.

“I am in therapy.  I still have nightmares.  I still have back flashes, I get nervous.  I am on antidepressants.  I am depressed a lot and still sleep with the light on,” says the victim.

She says  she couldn`t believe that the man who served prison time for sexually abusing her was not on the sex offender registry.

Right now, you can look at thousands of sex offenders online.

You can search by name or neighborhood.

But the ones you see either committed the crime on or after July 1st of 1994 or they were released from prison after that year.

But soon you will see more offenders online.

It`s part a new law that just went into effect.

Sex offenders dating back to 1980 will soon have their information online for the public to see.

The new list is called a supplement to the current registry.

Right now, State Police are gathering the names of sex offenders convicted between 1980 until 1994.

The new list will not show the offenders' pictures or addresses, but their name, their crime, date of conviction, birthday, and place where the crime happened will be available to the public.

“This will help close the loop, help strengthen the list and to make sure our citizens are protected,” says Ronald Villanueva (R).

We went to the home of a man who was convicted in 1985 who is expected to be put on the new list.

A woman who answered the door didn`t like the idea of additions to the website.

“I think it's unfair and I didn't know him during that time,” the woman at the door says.

State Police say they are still working to develop how they are going to create this new list.

It`s unclear how many additional names will be added because State Police are working to gather them right now.

Victims say the list is vital and could save other people from being abused whether you are searching the name of a coach, a relative or a new boyfriend.

“I relive it every day. No kid deserves to go through an abuse situation like this,” the victim says.

State Police have until January of 2016 to create this new list.