Match.com Action After Lawsuit Not Enough
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (August 29, 2011) -- Match.com is screening members through the federal, state and local Sex Offenders Registry but it’s not enough because the vast majority -- up to 90 percent -- of sexual assault cases are plea-bargained and may not result in a mandate to register with the Sex Offenders Registry.
After being sexually assaulted by a man she met on Match.com, Carole Markin sued Match.com. In a settlement this month, the company agreed to screen members through the Sex Offenders Registry. Meanwhile, a Maryland woman Robyn Gardner has been reported missing after vacationing with Gary Giordano whom she met on Match.com in early August. It’s been reported that two women had taken out orders of protection against Giordano, including one by his ex-wife during their divorce.
“Even if Match.com had screened Giordano against the Sex Offenders Registry, it would not reveal the orders of protection,” explains Andy Scott, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and co-founder of MyMatchChecker.com, which specializes in background checks for online dating community. “The only way for online daters to protect themselves is to conduct a thorough criminal background check. A comprehensive criminal background check includes national, state, local criminal databases and will reveal any arrests and convictions.”
“Online dating sites must be socially responsible and offer their members the ability to run CRIMINAL background checks through a non-biased, third-party company directly from their website,” adds Scott, “Asserting that Sex Offender Registry checks will increase the security of an online dater is misleading to the public. Only a criminal background check provides a comprehensive view of someone’s criminal history.”
"In my experience as a police Captain and Undersheriff, I have found that 90 percent of the time sex offenders plea bargain their case, which results in not having to register for the Sexual Offenders Registry," adds MyMatchChecker.com co-founder Robert Buchholz.
ABOUT MYMATCHCHECKER.COM
MyMatchChecker was founded by two retired, ranking police executives, Andrew Scott and Robert Buchholz. Keeping their families safe and keeping the public safe are their life's work. Robert Buchholz is a retired New York State Police Captain and former Albany County (NY) Undersheriff. Andrew Scott is a retired Chief of the Boca Raton (FL) Police Department and former Assistant Chief of the North Miami Beach (FL) Police Department. Both proudly served their respective communities for over 30 years each. Robert Buchholz and Andrew Scott continue to be actively involved in law enforcement based upon their affiliation with various national, state and local law enforcement associations including the International Associations of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Scott is also a criminal justice instructor at several local universities.
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