Vicki Rios-Martinez (pictured) flips a lock of redish-blond hair away from her face. She glances around, as mothers do, in a park where children are playing. This is Junny Rios-Martinez Park in Cocoa.
“I had to put it all away for a while… I had to concentrate on keeping my family and my marriage together,” she says.
Mrs Martinez talked a bit about the spiritual life she has found – a life which helps her deal with the anger and the grief she has felt since April 18th 1991. That was the day Mark Dean Schwab ended the life of her eleven year-old son, Junny.
Schwab had been released to the community one month earlier, after serving less than half of the eight-year sentence he received for molesting a thirteen year-old boy.
“He saw Junny’s picture in the newspaper and a few days later he contacted us. He said he was a photographer for a surfing magazine. Back then there was no sex offender registry… no warning at all.”
“He brought all these things, T-shirts, caps, shorts. He said these people would sponsor Junny and this was some of the free merchandise he would get from these companies. Junny was all exited.”
Later that week, Schwab picked Junny up at school on a pretext. Two weeks later he told police where the body was.
On May 19th, Mrs. Martinez will present an award to Mark Lunsford, whose daughter Jessie was allegedly murdered by another convicited molester: John Couey.
Called “The Junny”, it represents all the progress that has been made since April 18th 1991. She glances around, as mothers do…

Child advocates, law makers and law enforcers are slated to converge on Cape Canaveral in May to participate in the Space Coast Conference On Child Protection. The event, which is themed the “Lunsford Act Workshop” (L.A.W.), will examine the dramatic new legislation designed to protect Florida’s children from sex predators.

State Representative Mitch Needleman, co-sponsor of the Jessica Lunsford Act, will be on hand to discuss the dynamic legislation in the works in Tallahassee.

Scheduled between the 2006 legislative sessions, the conference is an opportunity for law enforcement to present a laundry list for state law makers.

“Certainly, there will be some tweaking to do.” says Sheriff Jack Parker, “these laws have changed the landscape for local law enforcement.” Parker who is earning a reputation for his agressive posture toward policing sex criminals, will take his turn at the podium to outline his goal of creating a “Child Safe” community.

Parker will be joined by Chief Phillip Ludos of the Cocoa Police Department. The veteran cop is president of the Association of Chiefs of Police: “In some cases, these local ordinances are running ahead of existing state law.” Chief Ludos spoke to THE GUARDIAN by telephone March 14.

Melbourne-based attorney Michael Kahn, will discuss issues concerning civil liberties at the workshop. An expert in constitutional law, Kahn’s presentation will be aimed at anticipating challenges to this radical new legislation.

Activist and Author Claire Reeves (pictured), will keynote the event along with Mark Lunsford. Her organization Mothers Against Sexual Abuse (M.A.S.A) spearheaded some of the fundamental laws of the American child-protection movement. She was a prime mover behind the elimination of the statute of limitations for sexual assault on young children. The adoption of the law allows victims to file charges many years after their abuse. Reeves was instrumental in forcing adoption of California’s chemical castration law. She is the author of “Childhood: It Should Not Hurt”.

Host Mayor, Rocky Randells of Cape Canaveral will welcome the conferees at the Radisson-Resort at the Port. The one-day event begins at 9:00 AM, May 19th and registration can be made by calling Protect Our Children at 321-638-3711. To register on-line visit the website at www.uspoc,org. The cost of registration will increase after May 5th, and group discounts are available. Luncheon will be provided by the Radisson’s banquet staff.