I'm not a sexual predator and neither is my name

Jon's log- 7-20-09

Got your attention now, huh??!! The latest in our string of crazy happenings.... I have been flagged as a potential sexual predator in Indiana, or at least my personal info has been. We filled out the application for the apartment with the excellent lease terms, but his reports turned up some major problems. For one, there were some false credit accounts under my name. And much more exciting, as of April 15th, some of my personal info (name, DOB, or SSN) was charged with child molesting somewhere in Indiana.

Before you ask a silly question, just stop! No, I have never been to Indiana, much less committed a disgusting crime there. As for my personal information, I can vouch for their whereabouts on the date in questions. My personal information was with me, as like all red-blooded, responsible yet frustrated Americans, we worked over our tax forms.

The truth, according to the Winthrop division of the State Police, is that these background checks flag anything close to the information entered rather than the exact info (oh goody!). The guy's name is actual Joni Moore, but unfortunately, the physical description reads white male, 5'8", dark hair, green eyes; 180 lbs. (that part I wish were true). So, it's just close enough for the landlord, who has kids, to be rather freaked out. And here's the fun catch: apparently, when you are completely innocent and everyone knows you are completely innocent, they can't figure out how to officially DECLARE you innocent! I spent much of the day traveling and calling between various law enforcement agencies, all of whom are telling me it's a false flag, but none of whom can prove it. Apparently, no one I have talked to knows how to interface with Indiana directly... though they can certify my spotless record in South Carolina. I finally got the phone numbers for some agencies in Indiana, only to find out they're puzzled too. The lady at the Indiana Sexual Offenders Registry said I am not in their system, but neither is the other guy, because the charges are so recent. Too bad. It would have been so nice and easy to pull up his picture and show him (felon) alongside me (not felon).

The craziest thing is none of this is fraudulent, it seems. The credit report info came from someone incorrectly altering a guy's social so that it matched mine and tied our accounts together, and this background stuff is because somewhere there is a guy with similar information.According to her, it's the landlord's responsibility to run all this down, so we'll see what happens. I really, never thought I'd say this, but if you have connections, please come fingerprint me and run me through the national crime database. After all, there's no way they'll make Jimmy Hoffa stick. My personal info and I would appreciate the exoneration.

All that said, it is nice to hear all these law enforcement professionals tell me this is nuts too. And my wife has been wonderful in recognizing that we will look back and laugh our heads off at this someday.... but that is not today. Most importantly, I follow a God who is both just and merciful. A huge comfort for me while I wait, and that's really all there is to this. And I hope He will comfort the family in Indiana... far worse has happened to them. And assuming he is guilty, I hope Joni gets impressed with God's justice and mercy before it's too late to make a difference.