Law Enforcement operation keeps tabs on sex offenders

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Anderson County Sheriff’s Deputies and Deputy US Marshals recently held a jiont operation to confirm to location of all registered sex offenders in Anderson County.

Operation Blue Ridge began with a briefing at the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and lasted Sept. 22-28. During the planning phase of the operation, 491 sex offenders were listed as active and residing in Anderson County. Upon further review, it was discovered that two offenders had died recently, six were found to be incarcerated, and three were registered in other counties. Compliance verifications were conducted on the remaining 480 offenders.

Ten teams participated in the enforcement phase of the operation, during which five fugitives were arrested on outstanding local warrants for Failure to register as a Sex Offender. Fourteen additional warrants were issued for sex offenders deemed non-compliant. Non-compliance included charges for registering with false information or failure to provide required information. The Marshals will continue to assist with these remaining investigations until the violators are arrested and the charges are adjudicated.

The purpose of Operation Blue Ridge was to ensure that registered sex offenders living in Anderson County were, in fact, living at their reported residence and that each offender was in compliance with the sex offender registry laws of South Carolina. Since the Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act was signed by President Bush in 2006, the US Marshals Service has been assisting state and local agencies in these types of operations.

According to Senior Inspector Derek Miller of the US Marshals Service, “This was the largest joint sex offender compliance operation to date in the District of South Carolina. Deputy Marshals from nine agencies participated including the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson Police Department, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville Police Department, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the US Marshals Service.”

“The results of Operation Blue Ridge are a prime example of how federal, state, and local agencies work together to keep the citizens of our community safe. The professionalism, dedication, and diligence displayed by our men and women everyday as they carry out their duties should not go without recognition. I am very proud of the hard work put forth by everyone involved in Operation Blue Ridge.”, stated Kelvin Washington, US Marshal for the District of South Carolina.

Established in 1789, the United States Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. In fiscal year 2013, the Marshals arrested more than 36,000 federal fugitives, clearing 39,117 felony warrants and arrested 12,397 sex offenders. More information about the Marshals and current South Carolina fugitives can be found on the web at www.usmarshals.gov.

Sheriff John Skipper commented on the operation by stating, “Operation Blue Ridge was a tremendous success and we wish to thank all of the Marshals who assisted in this operation. Their assistance in monitoring sex offenders in our county is a great asset to us as is their involvement in our Joint Task Force, which continues to apprehend violent criminals on a daily