A 40-year-old high-risk sex offender has moved to Albert Lea after being released from a state facility, police officials announced Thursday.

The Level 3 offender, Tai Lars Stadheim, has moved to the 2100 Block of East Main Street.

Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said the notification of Stadheim’s release is not intended to increase fear in the community, but instead to create a safer, more informed public.

Police will be holding a community notification meeting about the release at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, at Albert Lea National Guard Armory to provide additional information about the predatory offender registration program and Stadheim. There will be a panel of experts available to answer questions after the meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting.

A notification fact sheet released by the Albert Lea Police Department states Stadheim has a history of sexual contact, including fondling, with juvenile female victims. Stadheim was known to his victims.

Stadheim will be required to register as a Level 3 sex offender. A Level 3 sex offender is someone who has a high risk of reoffending. This does not mean that he will necessarily commit a new crime, but that they are part of a group of people who are most likely to.

A Level 1 offender has a low risk of reoffending, and a Level 2 offender has a moderate risk of reoffending, Winkels said.

In Minnesota, offenders are rated based on several criteria, including the seriousness of the offense, age of the victim, prior history, number of victims, offender’s characteristics, substance abuse history and availability of community supports, he said.

Based on the ratings of the offenders, officials know what type of notification to perform when the prisoners are released.

When a Level 1 offender is released, law enforcement agencies are called and victims and witnesses may be notified.

With a Level 2 release, more people are notified, including schools, day cares and other establishments that tend to serve potential victims.

The last time a Level 3 offender moved to Albert Lea was March 2009. More than 120 people attended the community notification meeting at that time.