Child sex offender active in theaters

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A convicted child molester from Massachusetts has now been arrested for child porn in New Mexico but that may not be the end of the case after he told detectives he’s committed more crimes and has been hanging around local theaters.

John Vandermeer is a registered sex offender in New Mexico for a sex crime he committed against a young boy in Massachusetts in the late 1980s. In December, state police arrested him again for child porn.

However, in a criminal complaint it appears Vandermeer may have been trying to hide. His internet service was listed under a John Vanderneer, with a "N" instead of "M". KRQE News 13 learned it’s not the first time he’s made slight changes to his name.

In a criminal complaint, Vandermeer told detectives who questioned him arrested for child porn arrest that “there were crimes in New Mexico that he hasn't been charged for.” He also said, “he had a preference for pre-pubescent boys and girls" and "he participated in productions in which children were present."

KRQE learned Vandermeer has been active in amateur theater groups across Albuquerque to include, Albuquerque Little Theater, The Adobe Theater and The Vortex Theatre. Vandermeer even joined the Albuquerque Theatre Guild, an organization of about 150 people.

Only Albuquerque Little Theater confirmed to us that it knew Vandermeer was a convicted child rapist. The Adobe Theater and Albuquerque Theatre Guild said they had no idea until we told them.

Vandermeer may have made it hard for them to find out.

Albuquerque Little Theater sent us a statement and listed his name as "Van der Meer." On the Albuquerque Theatre Guild website his last name is again split into three.

He may have been doing that because if you search the state sex offender registry, there's no offender listed under those slightly changed names.

However, if you search the correct last name you will find Vandermeer.

Both the Albuquerque Little Theater and Adobe Theater put on shows that attract young actors and young audiences.

The Albuquerque Little Theater sent a statement saying: "John Van der Meer was carefully scheduled to work only with adult staff and volunteers, during hours when there were no children on the premises."

A board member with the Adobe Theater said he did participate in productions but she did not know if children were involved. She also said she didn't know about Vandermeer's past until now.

Vandermeer will be held in federal custody until his trial which hasn't been scheduled yet.