Sheriffs' offices perform verifications on registered sex offenders
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Registered sex offenders in four southwest Ohio counties had unexpected visitors Tuesday as county Sheriff’s from Fayette, Highland, Pike, and Ross counties implemented an effort to check for compliance. These verifications were in addition to verifications done on a random, routine basis.
Sheriff Vernon Stanforth (Fayette County), Sheriff Ron Ward (Highland County), Sheriff Richard Henderson (Pike County), and Sheriff George Lavender (Ross County), as well as members of the Ohio Adult Parole Auhority partnered together to check the accountability of registered sex offenders, ensuring that offenders in each Sheriff’s jurisdiction were living at the address given to law enforcement at the time of their registration.
Convicted sex offenders are required by law to do certain things to remain compliant. Following the conviction of a sex offender and upon order of the presiding judge, offenders must indicate to the County Sheriff, the address where they will reside, work or attend school, and must report to the appropriate Sheriff any changes in their addresses, along with additional information.
Ohio Sheriffs continue to maintain a close watch on registered sex offenders, taking all violations as serious matters. The public is encouraged to provide any information related to any sex offender violating any provision of their registration.
The following is a break-down of the results of the multi-county operation:
Fayette County has 71 registered sex offenders. All 71 sex offenders were checked are in compliance with their registration.
Highland County has 68 registered sex offenders. 61 sex offenders were checked and in compliance with their registration. 2 offenders still being investigated. 5 offenders were found not compliant with their registration and charges are pending in those investigations.
Pike County has 51 registered sex offenders. 48 sex offenders were checked and are in compliance with their registration. 3 offenders were found not compliant with their registration and charges are pending in those investigations.
Ross County has 45 registered sex offenders. 32 sex offenders were checked and are in compliance with their registration. 7 offenders needed additional verification. 6 offenders were found not compliant with their registration and charges are pending in those investigations.
Total for the multi-county operation: Out of 235 registered sex offenders, 212 offenders were in compliance with their registration. 9 offenders require further investigation. 14 charges pending in cases where the sex offenders were not in compliance with their registration.
History:
On October 11, 1989, eleven-year old Jacob Wetterling was abducted at gun point and never seen again. The federal “Jacob Wetterling Act “ of 1994 required sex offender registries to be established.
After the July 29, 1994 rape and murder of seven-year old Megan Kanka by a sex offender residing nearby, the public demanded broad-based community notification when a dangerous sex offender was residing in a neighborhood.
As a result, on May 17, 1996, then President Clinton signed into a federal law dubbed, “Megan’s Law”, requiring states to inform a community when convicted sex offenders are living in the immediate area. The law makes available certain personal information on the sex offenders to the public.
On July 7, 1997, Ohio version of “Megan’s Law” was put into effect requiring sex offenders released into the community to register with the County Sheriff’s.
On July 3, 2003, Ohio updated “Megan’s Law” to restrict released sex offenders from residing near school property and to establish a 1000 ft. notification area of certain classifications of offenders residing in the community.
On July 27, 2006, the federal “Adam Walsh” act was passed on the 25th anniversary of the abduction and death of six-year old Adam Walsh, the son of television personality John Walsh, requiring all states to comply with additional registration and re-classification of all offenders nationwide, to better track offenders as they move throughout the country. Ohio’s version became effective in August, 2007.[[In-content Ad]]
Sheriff Vernon Stanforth (Fayette County), Sheriff Ron Ward (Highland County), Sheriff Richard Henderson (Pike County), and Sheriff George Lavender (Ross County), as well as members of the Ohio Adult Parole Auhority partnered together to check the accountability of registered sex offenders, ensuring that offenders in each Sheriff’s jurisdiction were living at the address given to law enforcement at the time of their registration.
Convicted sex offenders are required by law to do certain things to remain compliant. Following the conviction of a sex offender and upon order of the presiding judge, offenders must indicate to the County Sheriff, the address where they will reside, work or attend school, and must report to the appropriate Sheriff any changes in their addresses, along with additional information.
Ohio Sheriffs continue to maintain a close watch on registered sex offenders, taking all violations as serious matters. The public is encouraged to provide any information related to any sex offender violating any provision of their registration.
The following is a break-down of the results of the multi-county operation:
Fayette County has 71 registered sex offenders. All 71 sex offenders were checked are in compliance with their registration.
Highland County has 68 registered sex offenders. 61 sex offenders were checked and in compliance with their registration. 2 offenders still being investigated. 5 offenders were found not compliant with their registration and charges are pending in those investigations.
Pike County has 51 registered sex offenders. 48 sex offenders were checked and are in compliance with their registration. 3 offenders were found not compliant with their registration and charges are pending in those investigations.
Ross County has 45 registered sex offenders. 32 sex offenders were checked and are in compliance with their registration. 7 offenders needed additional verification. 6 offenders were found not compliant with their registration and charges are pending in those investigations.
Total for the multi-county operation: Out of 235 registered sex offenders, 212 offenders were in compliance with their registration. 9 offenders require further investigation. 14 charges pending in cases where the sex offenders were not in compliance with their registration.
History:
On October 11, 1989, eleven-year old Jacob Wetterling was abducted at gun point and never seen again. The federal “Jacob Wetterling Act “ of 1994 required sex offender registries to be established.
After the July 29, 1994 rape and murder of seven-year old Megan Kanka by a sex offender residing nearby, the public demanded broad-based community notification when a dangerous sex offender was residing in a neighborhood.
As a result, on May 17, 1996, then President Clinton signed into a federal law dubbed, “Megan’s Law”, requiring states to inform a community when convicted sex offenders are living in the immediate area. The law makes available certain personal information on the sex offenders to the public.
On July 7, 1997, Ohio version of “Megan’s Law” was put into effect requiring sex offenders released into the community to register with the County Sheriff’s.
On July 3, 2003, Ohio updated “Megan’s Law” to restrict released sex offenders from residing near school property and to establish a 1000 ft. notification area of certain classifications of offenders residing in the community.
On July 27, 2006, the federal “Adam Walsh” act was passed on the 25th anniversary of the abduction and death of six-year old Adam Walsh, the son of television personality John Walsh, requiring all states to comply with additional registration and re-classification of all offenders nationwide, to better track offenders as they move throughout the country. Ohio’s version became effective in August, 2007.[[In-content Ad]]