Police crackdown on noncompliant sex offenders
"We're going out looking for registered sex offenders that didn't come in and verify their address as required by law." Michigan State Trooper Ric Pearson drove around Wexford and Missaukee Counties on Friday looking for sex offenders who have not given their current address to law enforcement as they're required to by law. It's part of Operation Verify. "There's a little over 250 registered sex offenders in the two counties I patrol regularly. So normally anywhere between a dozen to 20 people will fail to verify for one reason or another." Trooper Pearson says there's usually a reason sex offenders don't verify their address. "Sometimes they say they forget, maybe. But usually it's because they've committed other crimes, they have warrants for their arrest, they're embarrassed, they don't want people to know where they're living, or they're re-offending and that's the thing I'm worried about the most."
Pearson says this program helps keep the public safe and punishes the noncompliant sex offenders in the process. "The first time they're convicted for fail to verify is considered a 93 day misdemeanor. They can be incarcerated up to 93 days. Second offense is a one year misdemeanor and then the third time is a four year felony. So it gets more serious." The Michigan State Police say they are currently looking for Arthur Eichorn, Alfred Willsea and Terrence Puffer who are all sex offenders that are facing four year felonies for failing to verify their addresses.
