A Jefferson store owner has sued the state because he can’t work at his business which is located within 1,000 feet of a church. Narinder Chahal, Lawrenceville, is a registered sex offender and is not allowed to work at his business, Chicken King, which is located across from the First Christian Church of Jefferson.
Chicken King is located within 1,000 feet of the First Christian Church of Jefferson.
Jefferson store owner sues state over sex offender law
In 2003, Chahal pled guilty to one count of transporting obscene matter to a minor. He was sentenced to serve 21 months in jail followed by three years of probation. He was also required to register as a sex offender. The state law limits where he is allowed to work and live. The law prohibits sex offenders from being employed by any business which operates within 1,000 feet of a church.
Chahal and his wife own Chicken King, located at 95 Lee Street in Jefferson.
In the lawsuit, Chahal contends that Chicken King is not open at any time that First Christian Church is holding services. He asks for a ruling that he be allowed to work at the store.
At the present, the store is open from 5 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and is operated by two employees. The employees are unable to work after 2:30 p.m. and Chahal is not allowed to work. The store owner said this is hurting his business.
“Because the store cannot be operated after 2:30 p.m. for the second half of the business day and is thus losing a substantial portion of its income, the store cannot cover its operating expenses,” the lawsuit states. “…Plaintiff and his wife have been forced to over-extend their credit to cover monthly living expenses, including their mortgage, food, fuel and their daughter’s college tuition.”
In Chahal’s lawsuit against the state, he also lists Jackson County Sheriff as a defendant. He states that the sheriff informed him he can’t work at the business because it violates the state law.
Chahal and his wife own Chicken King, located at 95 Lee Street in Jefferson.
In the lawsuit, Chahal contends that Chicken King is not open at any time that First Christian Church is holding services. He asks for a ruling that he be allowed to work at the store.
At the present, the store is open from 5 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and is operated by two employees. The employees are unable to work after 2:30 p.m. and Chahal is not allowed to work. The store owner said this is hurting his business.
“Because the store cannot be operated after 2:30 p.m. for the second half of the business day and is thus losing a substantial portion of its income, the store cannot cover its operating expenses,” the lawsuit states. “…Plaintiff and his wife have been forced to over-extend their credit to cover monthly living expenses, including their mortgage, food, fuel and their daughter’s college tuition.”
In Chahal’s lawsuit against the state, he also lists Jackson County Sheriff as a defendant. He states that the sheriff informed him he can’t work at the business because it violates the state law.
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#1
Voice of the People
on
10/07/08 at 01:51 PM
[Reply]
There are consequences to breaking the law and Mr. Chahal did, admitted to it and as part of his punishment of jail time and probation he is required to register under our sex offender laws. Many may see his crime as small compared to what it could have been but the law is the law and Mr. Chahal admittedly broke, he is wrong to cannot complain after the fact and as a registered sex offender he is aware of the rules and restrictions so when he bought the store he knew then he was again breaking the law. He could have just as easily found a property away from schools and churches as detailed in the requirements of his registration and saved all including himself and his family a lot of heartache. Mr. Chahal needs to adhere to the law and pay for his crime and learn to live within the confines of his punishment as he agreed to. It appears to me that he is looking for a payout and unfortunately suing small towns and rural counties pays well for those seeking to take advantage.