Some sex offenders follow trend, leave Niagara Falls for better life
As with so many other segments of the colorful tapestry that makes up the population of Niagara Falls, at least some of the city’s registered sex offenders appear to be packing up and leaving for greener pastures.
According to the reference website city-data.com, there are currently 166 registered sex offenders living here, down from a year ago. That’s still one dangerous predator for every 300 residents, more than three times higher than the statewide average, where there is one sex offender for every 1,117 residents.
The 166 registered sex offenders is down by seven from the 173 reported in March 2015, a drop of just over 4 percent. That’s almost as impressive as the 5.4 drop in violent crime claimed by Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster for the year.
Both decreases assume that the city’s population remained the same, however. And there is little evidence to assume that it did. Those who are able have been leaving Niagara Falls steadily for more than 50 years.
But regardless, the horrific nature of the crimes committed by these twisted individuals makes having any of them living nearby discomforting.
Take Anthony Martinucci, 49, of 513 75th St. here. Known as Tony to his friends and former cellmates, he was convicted in 1996 of sexually abusing two girls, then ages 3 and 8. He is classified as a Level 2 sex offender.
And then there’s Antonio Toledo, 53, of 484 19th St. Apt. 1. A Level 3 offender, he was convicted in 1989 of forcibly raping a 16-year-old girl after first disabling her with a “chemical agent.”
Many of the deviate sexual predators living in Niagara Falls share two things in common; The committed their crimes against young children and they came to the city only after serving their prison sentences.
Like North Tonawanda native Craig Stroh, 35, of 1158 Ontario Ave., Apt 3. Stroh’s record shows that, in 2001, he threatened two young girls, ages 7 and 11, into what was called “sexual abuse” in the official report. The girls, now young women, undoubtedly still bear the emotional scars of his monstrous desires.
Stroh is a Level 3 sexual offender, thought by authorities to be the most dangerous sort of sexual predator.
Darius Washington, 46, of 2421 21st St. also came from outside the city and also chose a child as his victim. In 2005, he forcibly raped a 15-year-old girl, earning himself Level 3 status.
David Aguilar, 65, of 7811 Porter Road, came to the city from the Town of Niagara where, in 2005, he engaged in deviate sexual intercourse with three 8-year-old girls. Aguilar is listed as a Level 2 offender.
And also from the Town of Niagara is Duane Biro, 45, of 7645 Fourth Ave., kidnapped a 33-year-old woman in 1990, threatened her with a knife, beat her and repeatedly raped her. He is also listed as a Level 2 offender.
Despite the slight drop in the actual number of registered sex offenders living in Niagara Falls over the past year, their population has boomed since Dyster took office.
In 2007, just 70 registered sex offenders lived in the city.
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