30 sex offenders found missing

Aug. 18, 2006
By Matt Elofson - Staff writer
LUMBERTON - Sheriff's investigators are looking for 30 Robeson County sex offenders who weren't at home when lawmen came knocking. Detective Lt. Howard Branch said all failed to register new addresses with the Sheriff's Office as required by law.
A recent campaign during which sheriff's deputies went door to door resulted in fresh warrants. Branch said the offenders' names will be entered into the National Crime Information Center database.
The Robeson County Sheriff's Office launched the effort two weeks ago to make sure that the county's 154 registered sex offenders are following the law that requires them to tell authorities of their whereabouts.
Investigators finished their checks this week.
Lawmen sometimes found other people living in residences that sex offenders had listed as their addresses or empty houses.
“There was one address where a mobile home had been and the whole mobile home was gone ... it was nothing but a empty lot,” Branch said. “I was figuring (there would be) 15 that we'd have to issue warrants to have to look for. I hope next time it won't be as many.”
Sex offenders have 10 days to register with the Sheriff's Office after they move to a new address. Failure to do so could result in the offender being charged with a felony.
The violation would be breach of probation and likely mean more prison time, Branch said.
The Sheriff's Office is expected to check the addresses of the county's convicted sex offenders on a regular basis.
𔄘ur main concern is we don't know where they are, and we're supposed to know where they're at because they are a convicted sex offender,” Branch said.
The names of sex offenders can also be found on the Internet. Lawmen encourage people to visit the Web sites so they will know if there is a sex offender living in their neighborhood so they can take necessary steps to protect themselves and their children.
County residents can check the state's registry Web site for local convicted sex offenders at www.ncregistry.ncsbi.gov or www.mapsexoffenders.com.
30 sex offenders found missing
LUMBERTON - Sheriff's investigators are looking for 30 Robeson County sex offenders who weren't at home when lawmen came knocking. Detective Lt. Howard Branch said all failed to register new addresses with the Sheriff's Office as required by law.
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