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	NH Has 45 Days to Decide on Gale's Return WMUR March 25, 2009 http://www.wmur.com/news/19007059/detail.html MIDDLETON, N.H. -- A defrocked priest and predatory sex offender recently released from custody in Massachusetts wants to move back to New Hampshire. Robert Gale served time for raping an altar boy in Massachusetts. A judge wants Gale to serve his 25-year probation in New Hampshire. Gale is petitioning to spend his 25-year probation in Middleton, where he owns a house, WMUR News 9's Adam Sexton reported. New Hampshire can refuse Gale's requests -- Middleton police and some of the people in Gale's old neighborhood said they hope that's exactly what happens. Laurie Lee lives just around the corner from Gale's house. She said she remembers seeing Gale take frequent walks through the neighborhood before he was arrested. "At the time, we didn't know what he was until we heard it on the news, and then, I felt my two children should've stayed in the house, and that's not fair," Lee said. Some year-round residents said they are astounded Gale might return. "I'm not particularly happy with that considering I walk my kids back down by his house every summer, every day to go down to swim," said Sarah Cooper, a neighbor. Local police expressed concern about the proximity of Gale's property to a popular public beach on Sunrise Lake. "A lot of kids walk and ride their bike in the summertime to the beach up and down the road by his house," Middleton Police Chief Randy Sobel said. Corrections officials described such an arrangement as a clear red flag for turning down a sex offender's request. "If he requests to live in an area where he may come in contact with minors, then we would be more likely to deny the request," Department of Corrections spokesman Jeff Lyons said. Neighbors said want the state to respond to Gale and Massachusetts with a firm and unequivocal no. WMUR News 9 spoke to some neighbors who said they wouldn't mind if Gale returned, but they declined to appear on camera. One woman said she thinks Gale has "paid the price for his sins." The state has 45 days to make a decision.
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