Victim's mom voices concerns as child abuser faces chance of parole

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The mother of a little boy who was sexually assaulted while at summer camp is on a crusade. She's trying to make sure no other little boy endures what her son has.

She asked us not to identify her so her son's identity would remain secret.

The 11-year-old was touched inappropriately by a counselor at the Hill Country-area camp, according to investigators.

Matthew Bovee was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, but he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of injury to a child.

Since that is not a sex crime, the mother says, the law does not require him to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. She's trying to change that.

"If we can prevent this from happening to another child, it will make us feel so much better because at least, possibly, some good can come out of our tragedy," she said.

Assisted by City of Houston Victim's Advocate Andy Kahan, this mother is attempting to get the law changed in this next legislative session. He says they are hoping to get it changed before Bovee is paroled. His case is currently under review.

"People in the neighborhood, wherever he ends up, will have no clue that this sadistic pedophile is living amongst them," Kahan said.

They hope to require Bovee and those convicted in sex crime cases of non-sex related charges to register as a sex offender.

Kahan says the loophole can be seen in other cases, like that of David Port. He tried to sexually assault postal worker Debora Sue Schatz in 1984 before killing her. Port was recently released from prison after serving less than half his 75-year sentence and did not have to register as a sex offender.