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Sex Offender Volunteering At SJ School Event Avoids Arrest With Mystery Permission Slip

SAN JOSE  (CBS/AP) -- A registered sex offender convicted of molesting a child wasn't arrested when he was caught volunteering at a San Jose Catholic elementary school festival.

The Santa Clara County sheriff's office said 51-year-old Mark Christopher Gurries was a volunteer at last month's St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Elementary School event in San Jose.

Someone recognized the sex offender and told a deputy who was working as security.

But the San Jose Mercury News said Gurries wasn't arrested because he had a letter showing he had church permission to be there.

The sheriff's office was trying to determine the validity of the letter.

The school administrator said he doesn't know anything about the letter.

The Diocese of San Jose said it hasn't been able to determine the source of the letter.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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