09/14/2011
PASQUOTANK (WAVY) - Wednesday, the U.S. Marshal service announced the success of an ongoing operation targeting registered sex offenders in northeastern North Carolina.
Operation Palidin is the first time the U.S. Marshals Service in eastern North Carolina has joined forces with local authorities to monitor sex offenders in five counties.
10 On Your Side rode along as officers ensured registered sex offenders were living where they said they were.
- Of course they did, nothing like using sex offenders to get viewers and ratings!
"We're gonna go check on right now, [name withheld]," Brandon Taylor, a deputy U.S. Marshal, said during the sting operation. " [We are going to] make sure that he's, he's residing at this address, where he's registered with the Sheriff's Office. Just to make sure he's in compliance."
- So tell me again, what is the purpose of probation and parole officers?
[name withheld] is one of 68 registered sex offenders in Pasquotank County.
The door opened, but no one was home.
So, a Pasquotank Deputy and a U.S. Marshal showed [name withheld]'s picture to a neighbor across the street, who verified that [name withheld] was indeed her neighbor.
Police will go back to the home later to make sure, but for now there appears to be no violations.
So far, the operation has netted four arrest, but police said success in the sting is not measured by that number.
- So this is a sting? Really?
"We put every sex offender in this county on notice. You're going to be checked by your Sheriffs and then your sheriff is going to team up with community corrections and the Marshals Service to check you again," said U.S. Marshal Scott Parker.
Sheriff Randy Cartwright, with the Pasquotank Sheriff's Office, added, "our whole primary goal is to make sure that our sex offenders are following the state laws and the federal laws that are, and the guidelines that they must be registered is and follow each day is, so we can make sure that our citizens are as safe as they can possibly be."Teaming up with federal marshals, extends the reach of the long arm of the law.
"It really makes for an effective team when we're going out trying to enforce the laws in our communities," Taylor added.
The penalty for a registered sex offender who fails to keep their contact information current can range from 10 months to five years in prison.
