Officials sweep Cape Girardeau County for sex offender compliance

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Department placed one sex offender in custody and are investigating six more as a result of a joint operation with the U.S. Marshal Service to check sex-offender compliance.

Deputies contacted 62 high-risk offenders, many of whom previously violated the rules of the sex-offender registry, Capt. David James said. Cape Girardeau County has 164 sex offenders living in the county.

The offender taken into custody had not lived at the address listed on the registry for more than a year, James said. He said he could not release the name of the offender until an arrest warrant is filed by the Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Deputies could not find six other offenders in violation of the registry because they provided inaccurate information. Examples include one offender giving the address of a vacant lot, and another gave the address of a family member.

“They’ve all been explained the rules after conviction,” James said. “They all know what they have to do.”

The purpose of the joint operation was to verify addresses, employment, electronic contacts and vehicles being registered accurately. Officers also wanted to verify each offender was living the specified distance from parks and schools, according to a news release from Sheriff John Jordan.

Pertinent address:

216 N. Missouri St., Jackson, Mo.