Posted 12:08 am Thursday, June 03, 2010
Sweep: Sex Offenders' Addresses Checked
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
Smith County sex offenders were paid an unsuspected visit by members of law enforcement Wednesday, but as the teams made their checks, they learned five offenders no longer reside at the addresses they gave authorities.
Staff Writer
Smith County sex offenders were paid an unsuspected visit by members of law enforcement Wednesday, but as the teams made their checks, they learned five offenders no longer reside at the addresses they gave authorities.
Smith County Sheriff Chief Deputy Bobby Garmon said the compliance sweep was planned and was the result of a joint effort from his department, the Tyler Police Department, the U.S. Marshal's Office and other agencies to verify the addresses of 235 registered sex offenders living in the county.
Texas law requires sex offenders to register with local authorities and provide an address and the make, model and color of vehicle they drive.
Garmon explained that the 235 offenders they were searching for did not include the almost 100 offenders living within the city limits of Tyler, but did encompass the rest of the county.
"We do this each year to make sure these offenders are where they say they are. If we have a child missing, we immediately start checking with the offenders in the area, so knowing where they are is very important," he said.
The various teams of officers were given packets Wednesday morning along with a map of the area assigned to them before the teams departed from the Smith County 911 building.
Armed with the information and some basic instructions, the teams quickly went to work searching for the offenders at the residences they provided to authorities during their required reporting dates.
When the offender was not home, the teams talked to other members of the household or to neighbors who would sign an affidavit saying the offender lived at the residence. In some cases a flier was left on the door instructing the offender to contact the sheriff's office.
At one home in the Lindale area, a woman told the two members of one team that her brother-in-law had not been at the home in about two years.
The man had told police he was living at the home in April when he last reported.
"I'm not going to lie for him and tell you he lives here when he doesn't," the woman said. "Actually, you are an answer to my prayers, because I wanted someone to know he wasn't here."
Lt. Tony Dana said the numbers Wednesday afternoon pointed to five offenders not in compliance.
"They are still looking at all the packets and trying to determine who all was contacted or not, but right now it looks pretty good with only five out of 235 being out of compliance," he said.
Garmon said if the offender is not located or does not call authorities soon with his or her location, then warrants would be issued for the person's arrest for non-compliance.
"It's not something we take lightly. We want to know where these people are at all times," he said.
