The management company of Eckerson Village in Spring Valley admitted to having made a mistake by allowing a convicted sex offender to move into the area.

Barbara Mangam, a longtime resident of the Eckerson Village complex for the disabled, says she will not pay rent until Michael Fonti, a Level 3 sex offender, moves out.

"We were never informed he was here," she says.

Fonti, however, is determined to stay in his home. He says he pays his rent on time and does not bother his neighbors.

Bill Madden, the spokesperson for Arco Management, says the company made an error in Fonti's background check. He says it was conducted by a third party, went back only seven years and failed to reveal that Fonti was on the national sex offender registry. Eckerson Village is part of the Department of Housing and Development. Sex offenders listed on the national registry are prohibited from living in complexes under that department.

"We've been aggressively pursuing all legal measures to remove him from his apartment," Madden says.

Madden adds that Fonti was served with eviction papers earlier this month. However, he does not advise other residents to withhold rent.

Fonti will go through a 30-day arbitration period and then receive an eviction hearing.