The crime sent shockwaves through the community. A year-old woman was followed home and assaulted in mid-December. Pittsburgh police say Ronny Hough, 39, followed the elderly woman downtown onto a bus, broke into her home in Troy Hill, and then beat and raped her. She called when he allegedly fell asleep after the attack.
Hough was found guilty by a jury of indecent assault of a child under the age of 13 in He had to register as a tier three sex offender after he was released. Transient offenders are required to appear more frequently, once a month. Offenders are photographed and must provide their current address. Transient offenders provide the address of a shelter they are living in or the general vicinity where they are staying. At the time of his arrest in December, Hough was in compliance and had last appeared for a mandatory check-in three weeks prior.
Chalon Young is a criminal defense attorney and professor of practice at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. As of this week, there are roughly 1, registered sex offenders in Allegheny County. Young acknowledged it is common for offenders to stop complying with required checks, which may result in a warrant for their arrest. But she added that transient offenders currently have a higher rate of compliance than the broader group.
Councilman Anthony Coghill, who has pushed several initiatives to address homelessness in the city, including the introduction of tiny homes, said he is most concerned by unaddressed mental illness among unhoused individuals.
It is our problem. He believes those efforts begin with expanding access to emergency and transitional housing. Safety concerns are heightened within settings designed to assist homeless men, women and children. The organization helped approximately 3, unhoused people last year alone. And one of the most important things about loving people well is creating a safe environment.
