Released owner PuberEnzo not to return to home in Heerlen

The release of the owner of the private shelter PuberEnZo, accused of lewdness, has led to great commotion, destruction and arson in the Heerlen neighborhood of Schaesbergerveld, where the man lives.On the urgent advice of the police, the 42-year-old owner of the shelter has decided not to return to his home on the Goselingstraat. Yesterday, under police supervision, his home was emptied. The police assume that peace will return to the neighborhood now that it is known that the man is moving out.

The Heerlen man, who spent eight months in Vught prison, was acquitted Tuesday afternoon of sexually abusing youngsters entrusted to his care. However, he was sentenced to six months probation and 240 hours of community service for possession of child pornography and firearms. After the verdict, the man was released.

Immediately after the verdict was announced Tuesday afternoon, tempers flared, says spokesman Piet Tans of the Limburg-South police. "Both among local residents and young people who claim to be his victims. That afternoon his tui was vandalized. We then strongly advised the owner to seek shelter elsewhere. He fortunately did so. On Tuesday night, a caravan in his reverse was set on fire. The back door of the home was also forced. The fire was so intense that some neighbors were temporarily evacuated."

According to local residents, about fifteen youths stood in front of the house Tuesday afternoon to wait for the released man. When he did not show up, destruction was caused. The owner cannot count on much sympathy in the neighborhood, says a fellow street resident. "If those youths hadn't done it, we would have dealt with him."

Police made no arrests. "The wildest rumors circulated. Descriptions were given of possible perpetrators, but we can't do much with those," Tans explained.

Lawyer Serge Weening says previous vandalism to his client's home has already occurred.

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