Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Aug. 17, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the United States Marshals Service to conduct a sex offender enforcement and compliance operation in Beaufort County.

The purpose of the operation was to ensure that the 128 registered sex offenders in Beaufort County were in compliance with state laws, and more specifically, the Adam Walsh Act — which helps to protect children from sexual exploitation and violent crime. The compliance investigations included confirming the residency of each registered sex offender, confirming personal information about each registered sex offender, serving any outstanding warrants on each sex offender, and locating any sex offenders who have absconded.

The operation concluded on Thursday, Aug. 19. During the operation, only three warrants were issued. Of the three warrants, there was one physical arrest, one self-surrender, and one collateral lead apprehension request sent to the United States Marshals Service, Northern District of Texas after locating the absconded offender in Dallas, Texas.

According to U.S. Marshall Mike East, “The United States Marshals Service is committed to the safety of our citizens and children.  Compliance Operations like this will be a priority all across the Eastern District of North Carolina.”

Joint law enforcement operations of this nature serve notice to sex offenders that state and federal laws are being enforced and that sex offender’s registration requirement is taken seriously for the protection of the community.