Authorities still seek sex offenders
The search continues for six convicted sex offenders wanted for failing to register themselves with the state’s sexual offender registry.
A total of 12 people were indicted recently by the Warren County grand jury on charges they failed to list themselves with the sexual offender registry as required by law. The crime is a misdemeanor punishable by a minimum six-month jail sentence.
At present, five of the suspects have been picked up or turned themselves in, including Billy Martin and Lazlo Fodor, both now free on bond, Ethan Chad Weismore, James Otis Rainwater and William Edward Earls, all in jail in lieu of $3,000 bond. The whereabouts of the six remaining suspects is unknown. Their names have not been released since they are under sealed indictments. Charges against a 12th suspect will be dropped because he is being held on murder charges in Oklahoma.
According to District Attorney General Dale Potter, arrest papers have been issued for the six who remain at large and lawmen are actively looking for the suspects. However, Potter said finding them could be trouble.
“Their charges were brought because they failed to report their whereabouts,” Potter said. “Many of these folks are known to move frequently so finding them will not be an easy task, especially if they don’t want to be found.”
Potter said the crackdown on unlisted sex offenders had its desired affect even before indictments were sought as many offenders, who had not previously registered, complied with the law after reading a warning of the pending crackdown in the Southern Standard. While it is too late for the 11 suspects to register to avoid prosecution in these cases, Potter said they will still be required to list themselves as part of their sentences. Violation of the sex offender registry law for a second time is a felony.
The sex offender registry is a database which assists the public and law enforcement in keeping tabs on convicted sex offenders, listing their present addresses, pictures and crimes for which they were convicted. In the case of the recent roundup, none of the offenders are thought to be major felons with most having convictions on statutory rape. Those with serious convictions for child rape and forcible rape, Potter said, are still in jail serving their original sentences.