Loophole Allowed Sex Offender To Go Unregistered

A 46-year-old man charged with raping an 11-year-old girl in Pittsburgh spent nearly 15 years in the Oklahoma prison system for rape and other charges, but never had to register as a sex offender.

VIDEO: Watch The Channel 11 News Report

Channel 11 News learned that Haidle has a criminal history dating back more than 20 years. His prior crimes all came when he lived in Oklahoma. There, he was convicted of first-degree rape by force, attempted rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon and sodomy. All of the convictions were in 1987. He was imprisoned until January 2002.

Channel 11 contacted the sex offender registry in Oklahoma and discovered that Megan’s Law took effect in 1989 in Oklahoma. Since Haidle was convicted in 1987, he was never required to notify Oklahoma authorities when he relocated to Pennsylvania.

Allison Hall, of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, said the laws unfortunately don't protect everyone.

"There are existing laws now. Until the resources are allocated to enforce those laws ... these guys are gonna slip through the cracks," she said.

According to Pennsylvania Sex Offender Web site, there are 10329 registered sex offenders in the state, 808 of whom live in Allegheny County.

In most cases out-of-state sex offenders are required to register within 48 hours after arriving in Pennsylvania.

If a registered sex offender moves from Pennsylvania to another state, they are required to complete a change of address form and submit it to the state police.

The registered sex offender must register with the new law enforcement agency within 48 hours after establishing residence in another state.

So Pittsburgh police were unaware of Haidle's prior conviction for rape. He was found by police hiding in his home, under floor boards that were part of a makeshift trap door he had built.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Previous Stories: May 12, 2009: Council Introduces Resolution For Abandoned Homes After Child Sex Attack May 8, 2009: Rape Suspect's Father Says Son 'Needs To Be Put Away'