By STEPHANIE BEECKEN
6 News Reporter
HARRIMAN
(WATE) - The U.S. Marshal Service just wrapped up a two-day, eight-hour operation,
where they partnered with local law enforcement in Roane County to check on sex
offenders.
The Marshals knocked at the sex offenders' doors unannounced to make
sure they were following the sex offender registry laws.
Before
law enforcement can hit the streets in search of sex offenders they must map out
a plan, the goal, to make unannounced visits to the 105 registered sex offenders
living in Roane County.
The marshals, local law enforcement agencies and
District Attorney General Russell Johnson worked together in the
operation.
"We
provide advice. They'll probably call in and say, 'Hey we've got this situation or that situation. Which charges, which statute do you want to proceed under?' That
sort of thing to give them some advice," said District Attorney General Russell
Johnson.
After
the groups are assigned which sex offenders to check, law enforcement officials,
including Deputy U.S. Marshal John Sanchez, hit the road.
"We're
going to go look for him. He's on the sex offender registry for sexual
exploitation of a minor," said Sanchez.
The
first registered sex offender they checked on was in compliance with the law.
Depending
on the charge, some sex offenders are not allowed to have computers or live with
children. Registered sex offenders are also not allowed to live near parks or
schools and must register the address where they live.
"We're
going to check their driver's license, check their ID. We will be going inside
their homes," said Sex Offender Investigations Coordinator Derrick
Swenson.
Normally
the registered sex offenders must go to the local law enforcement agency or
parole officer every few months to check in.
But with assistance from the U.S.
Marshals, local law enforcement will have enough manpower to go to the sex
offenders' homes to make sure the rules are being
followed.
"The
ones we have arrested who have been living with kids, if we don't go out there
and check on them, they may have a girlfriend in the house and she may have kids
there, so we don't know unless we check," said Swenson.
The U.S.
Marshals pair up with local law enforcement and do about four sex offender
compliance check operations a year. Swenson says, on average, ten percent of the
sex offenders will be in violation of the law.
One
registered sex offender was not at the location where he was registered.
"If
he's across state lines without registering, then we'll refer this to
prosecution," said Sanchez.
Another
sex offender was checked during a traffic stop. He, too, was in violation.
"He
needs to update his driver's license right now," said
Sanchez.
U.S.
Marshals hope the random checks make the community feel safer and help to keep
the sex offenders in compliance.
Last
time the U.S. Marshals checked Roane County was in 2011. Eight arrests were made.
To see the registered sex offenders living near your home,
you can visit the state's sex offender registry website and put in your address.
The Marshals knocked at the sex offenders' doors unannounced to make sure they were following the sex offender registry laws.
"The ones we have arrested who have been living with kids, if we don't go out there and check on them, they may have a girlfriend in the house and she may have kids there, so we don't know unless we check," said coordinator Derrick Swenson
Another sex offender was checked during a traffic stop.
