41 Spring St. Springfield

41 Spring St. in Springfield. Sept. 17, 2014.

(Brian Steele | MassLive.com)

— The five-story brick building at 41 Spring St. blends into the surrounding neighborhood, but inside, it's unlike any other place in the city: It's home to 20 registered Level 3 sex offenders. That's 20, out of 22 units. Two apartments are vacant.

They've served their time and are not wanted by police. But according to state records, all of them "have been determined to be at a high risk to reoffend and to pose a high degree of dangerousness to the public."

The building is not a treatment center or homeless shelter, and city records show it's private property, so it's not a state-run halfway house or reintegration center.

So why do 20 of Springfield's 222 Level 3 sex offenders live there?

Property manager Rosa Blair has an idea, but even she doesn't fully understand why the building is a magnet for people the state considers dangerous.

"Somehow my name is over there in the prison," said Blair. "They call me from prison. I help them, just giving them a chance."

No families live at the address. It's men only. The property is owned by Victor and Marina Inc., a for-profit company based in Wilbraham. The Springfield Housing Authority said registered sex offenders are not eligible for rent subsidies through Section 8.

"They come with their own income," said Blair. "At least they have somewhere [to live]."

A city ordinance passed in 2007 says registered sex offenders can't live within 500 feet of a school. Beyond that, there are no residency restrictions, so the massing of sex offenders at 41 Spring St. is legal.

One of the building's residents, Angel Luis Agront, was convicted on 11 counts of child rape in 2000. According to an article in The Republican archives, the victim was a 9-year-old girl. Building resident Ward Billings was sentenced to six to eight years in prison for raping a 4-year-old and a 13-year-old in West Springfield in 1989.

Donald Matis has four convictions on his record, including child rape and indecent assault and battery, dating from 2001 to 2007. The state registry says Walter Ramos was convicted on 14 charges in 2005.

Despite the disturbing crimes, neighbor Diane Johnson, who has lived at 103 Spring St. for 24 years, said the people at number 41 don't bother her.

"It's not been a problem for me," she said.

She's more concerned about gang violence and street crime, especially when it involves young people.

"We do check over there twice a year to make sure everyone is in line," said Springfield Police Officer John Aberdale, a seven-year veteran of the Special Victims Unit, adding that, to his knowledge, the residents have never caused any problems for the community and have not reoffended.

"The person that runs it is outstanding. She runs a very, very tight ship," said Aberdale, referring to Blair. "Rather than be homeless out on the street, she's assisting them in putting a roof over their heads."

He said it's not fair to say one area or street is more dangerous than another when it comes to sex offenders.

"There's sex offenders throughout the whole city. You can't pinpoint one specific area, one apartment block," he said. "41 Spring St. is top-notch."

Aberdale said parents and children should always be aware of their surroundings and take precautions against all crime. The public is entitled to view up-to-date information about Level 3 and Level 2 sex offenders at local police departments.

Katie Gotch, coordinator of public affairs for the Oregon-based Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, said there's no research showing whether it's risky for sex offenders to live together in large groups with no formalized treatment structure. But she said a program in Colorado that allows two to four to live together, and offers such support, has not been shown to raise the likelihood that they'll commit another crime.

Sex crimes generally occur in secrecy, so it may not be possible to know whether someone is reoffending. Gotch said providing stable housing and employment has been shown to increase the safety of the community, partly because it allows for easier monitoring of sex offenders.

"They're trying to make life better," said Blair. "Whatever mistakes they made, that's between them and God. It's not for me to judge them."

MassLive.com reviewed almost three years worth of police responses to the address. There were a few dozen, but they were mostly for ambulances, minor disturbances and complaints that turned out to be unfounded. Nothing major.

Blair said the residents are afraid to go back to prison, so they don't cause any trouble.

Signs warn against trespassing, loitering and soliciting at number 41, and promise to prosecute violators. It is against state law to discriminate against, harass or threaten a registered sex offender.

Victor and Marina Inc., also owns two other buildings in the city. Four registered sex offenders live at 11 Frost St., including three who are Level 3 and one who is Level 2, and three Level 3 offenders live at 44-46 Byers St., according to state records.

All three buildings are within a short walk of one another.

Level 3 offender Robert Hartman is registered as living at 85 Spring St., an assisted living center called St. Luke's Home, owned and operated by Mercy Medical Center's Continuing Care Network.

Not everyone who seeks housing through Victor and Marina is a registered sex offender, but Blair said many suffer from mental health problems. She thinks social workers may be telling inmates about their properties and it's been happening for a "long, long time."

The full list of Level 3 registered sex offenders who live at 41 Spring St., according to the state Sex Offender Registry Board:

Angel Luis Agront; William Vincent Barber; Ward Daniel Billings; Brian Bishop; Benjamin Burgos; David Connors; Carmelo Delgado; Robert Fales; Richard Jackson; Charles Lyman; Richard Mahue; Edgardo Malave; Donald Matis; Jeffrey Nolette; Michael Pinkney; Joaquin Quiles; Walter Ramos; Samuel Rodriguez; Hector Rosado; and Raymond Taylor.