Sex Offender Verification Results in 19 Arrests

On September 10, 11 and 12, 2013 the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office participated in the 2013 Sex Offender verification operation with several other agencies for the purpose of sex offender status verifications in Douglas County, according to the Sheriff's Facebook page. Katrina Crouse, U.S. Marshall Service and Capt. Robert Holmes, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office coordinated the round up of six teams of more than 45 participants.

The agencies included members from the U.S. Marshalls Service, the U.S. Secret Service, Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Parole, and Douglasville Probation.

The U.S. Secret Service provided members who were forensic examiners and were available to visually check computers, cell phone and other media devices for illegal possession of pornography or possession in violation of their parole or probation conditions. They also provided Polygraph examiners for immediate testing of offenders.

The round up allowed the agencies to verify information on offenders to ensure they are up to date and complete and to do visual checks on probationers and their property for any violations of their conditions such as alcohol or drug possession or illegal possession of pornographic materials.

During the three-day verification process, 129 registered sex offenders were visited and their status was verified. These included both probation and non-probation offenders. Verifications included residence verifications, address, phone numbers, job information, vehicles and visual checks of their property. Of the 129 verifications completed, there were 16 arrests with 3 follow up cases for a total of 19 which include charges of violation of probation and Parole, Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act (V.G.C.S.A) and failure to register as a Sex Offender. Sixteen of these arrests were listed sex offenders.