Staff report

A Community Notification Meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. a the Hastings Middle School regarding a “Level III Predatory Offender who recently transitioned to our community,” a release from the City of Hastings states.

For a risk level three offender, law enforcement needs to notify law enforcement agencies, victims or witnesses who have asked to be informed of the offender’s release. “Other members of the community whom the offender is likely to encounter, specifically those who live in close proximity to where the offender will reside or is employed, will be notified as well,” the information release states.

The subject of the meeting is the release of Christopher Nicholas Sonsalla, 39, who “has a history of sexual contact with known female teenagers.” As of Oct 13, he has been residing in the 2600 block of Yellowstone Drive in Hastings.

“This individual has served the sentence imposed on them by the court and is transitioning into the community. This notification is not intended to increase fear but rather raise awareness. Law enforcement believes that an informed public is a safer public,” according to the Hastings Police Department. “The Hastings Police Department may not direct where this individual does or does not reside, nor can this agency direct where he/she works or goes to school.

“Those convicted of sexual and predatory offenses have always been released to live in our communities. It was not until the passage of the Registration Act that law enforcement had an ability to track movement of these individuals after their initial release. With the passage of the Community Notification Act law enforcement may now share information about many of these individuals with the public. Abuse of this information to threaten, harass or intimidate a registered person is unacceptable and such acts could be charged as a crime. Such abuses could potentially end the ability of law enforcement to provide these notifications.”

Sonsella was convicted of crimes investigated by the Long Praire Police Department.

News articles indicate that a similar meeting about Sonsella being released as a level 3 offender was also held in 2009 when he was released in Long Prairie.

Level three is the highest level of sex offender notification for those who could reoffend.

The meeting will be held in the Hastings Middle School Auditorium. Police urge attendees to wear face masks. Community members can also participate on zoom at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85959771620?pwd=bk1iTUhZTWdDSEJEZTUydEd1WkxCUT09