{"id":4659,"date":"2019-11-14T12:05:10","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T17:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=4659"},"modified":"2019-11-14T12:05:36","modified_gmt":"2019-11-14T17:05:36","slug":"operation-trick-or-treat-polk-county-sheriffs-office-detectives-charge-18-registered-sexual-offenders-and-predators-during-october-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2019\/11\/14\/operation-trick-or-treat-polk-county-sheriffs-office-detectives-charge-18-registered-sexual-offenders-and-predators-during-october-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"Operation Trick-Or-Treat: Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives charge 18 registered sexual offenders and predators during October initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In collaboration with\nthe Florida Sheriff\u2019s Association Task Force Operation \u201cHallowed Streets,\u201d the\nPolk County Sheriff\u2019s Office Special Victims Response Team conducted Operation\n\u201cTrick-Or-Treat\u201d during the month of October, 2019. The operation was aimed at\nensuring compliance with Florida’s registration laws for convicted sex\noffenders and sex predators (FSS 775.21 & 943.0435) within Polk County*.\nDetectives charged 18 suspects with failure to comply with sex offender\nregistrations laws and\/or violation of probation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our\ndetectives work hard year-round to keep track of convicted sexual offenders and\npredators who reside here. We also monitor whether or not they remain compliant\nwith the law. We know our citizens are concerned about predators and offenders\nbeing around children during events such as Halloween, so every year we conduct\ninitiatives like this one. These 18 suspects learned the hard way that we take\nevery one of the requirements seriously, and failure to comply will result in\nan arrest.<\/em>” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 1,283 Sexual\nOffenders and 166 sexual predators who live in Polk County. These offenders and\npredators are checked every quarter by Polk detectives to ensure they are in\ncompliance with Florida\u2019s sexual offender\/predator registration laws. During\nthe initiative just prior to Halloween, Polk County Sheriff\u2019s Office SVRT\ndetectives accomplished the following during the operation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7        Compliance checks conducted: 102<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7        Compliance checks – in compliance: 82<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7        Compliance checks – not in compliance: 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7        Hours dedicated to this operation: 80<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7        Arrests and\/or warrants issued: 18<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7        Social media\/Sign postings: 11<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7        Citizen education efforts made: 7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the third\nquarter of 2019 (July, August, September) preceding October, detectives\narrested 31 Sex Offenders or Predators for various violations and confirmed\ncompliance for 1230 sex offenders and 166 sex predators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following is a\nlist of those arrested or charged (18), and a summary of their offenses during\nthe Month of October:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Titus Finley, 25, of\n348 Honey Bee Lane, Polk City<\/strong>. Finley is a juvenile sexual offender based on a 2010\nconviction for sexual Battery by a juvenile on a victim under 12 years of age.\nIn May 2019, Finley was charged with one count of Failure to Comply with Sex\nOffender Registration Laws (F3) for having an unregistered vehicle. He had a\nwarrant issued for Failure to Appear in that case. He is required to register\nhis address quarterly, and failed to do so in August. Detectives obtained a\nsecond warrant for that. Finley was arrested on October 3, 2019, after crashing\non a stolen motorcycle. He was in possession of Meth and a concealed firearm at\nthe time. He is still in jail with 12 charges, including grand theft of a motor\nvehicle, carrying a concealed firearm, display of a firearm during a felony,\nleaving the scene of a crash with property damage, DWLSR, and multiple failure\nto register charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Earl Moorer, 52,\nof 515 Avenue J SE, Winter Haven<\/strong>. Moorer is a sexual offender based on a 1994 conviction for\nlewd and lascivious battery on a child under 16 years of age. In January 2019\nMoorer registered the above-listed address, and was advised the location was\nnot in compliance with statutes, as it is within 160 feet of Winter Haven High\nSchool. He changed the address to a motel. He also listed an employer, but\nwhile detectives conducted periodic checks, they learned he was no longer\nemployed there and failed to register two other employers. He also had checked\nout of the motel, and failed to list a registered vehicle. Moorer was arrested\nand charged with six additional counts Failure to Comply with Sex Offender\nRegistration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darrell Williams, 34,\nof Haines City<\/strong>. Williams is a sexual\noffender based on a 2006 conviction for lewd and lascivious battery on a child\nbetween 12-15 years of age. In 2018, Williams listed a home on Edna Holliday\nDrive as his permanent address. In September 2019, he re-registered the address.\nOn October 2, 2019, the homeowner contacted PCSO to notify us that he no longer\nlived at that address. Williams was incarcerated in the Polk County Jail from\nAugust 27 \u2013 September 12, 2019 for resisting arrest, possession of a firearm by\na convicted felon, and five counts failure to comply with sex offender laws,\nand has been out on bond since that time. Detectives obtained a warrant for his\narrest for two counts Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David Michael Bryan,\n46, of 814 North Kentucky Avenue, Lakeland<\/strong> (the Talbott House). Bryan is a sexual offender out of\nWisconsin based on a 1993 conviction for second degree sexual assault of a\nchild, and a 1998 conviction for third degree sexual assault. Detectives\ndetermined that Bryan moved to Georgia from Wisconsin, and then to Florida, and\nfailed to register his address. Detectives confirmed with Talbott House\npersonnel that he\u2019s been staying there. He was arrested and charged with two\ncounts Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerrid Michael\nJackson, 30, of Lakeland<\/strong>.\nJackson is a sexual offender based on a 2012 conviction for lewd and lascivious\nbattery on a victim between 12-15 years of age. In 2017 Jackson registered an\naddress on Spencer Lane, and was advised the location was not in compliance\nwith statutes, as it is too close to daycares and a park. He registered other\naddresses throughout the years, all of which were in compliance. During an\nunrelated investigation, detectives saw Jerrid at the Spencer Lane address, and\nhe told them that he lives there. They began an investigation and also found an\nonline account in his name. He was arrested and charged with eight counts\nFailure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enrico Conde, 51, of\nLakeland<\/strong>. Conde is a sexual\noffender based on a 2013 conviction for lewd and lascivious molestation on a\nvictim under 12 years of age. Conde registered the Talbott House as his\npermanent address. When detectives checked with Talbott House personnel, they\nconfirmed Conde never spent one night there and in fact was barred from the\nlocation. He was arrested and charged with two counts Failure to Comply with\nSex Offender Registration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Francisco Laza, 56, of\n131 Maple Drive, Kissimmee<\/strong>.\nLaza is a sexual offender based on a 2004 conviction in Puerto Rico for lewd\nand indecent acts. Laza failed to register in July 2019, and had three vehicles\nthat were not registered. He was arrested and charged with four counts Failure\nto Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws, and resisting arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everett Johnson, 46, a\ntransient in Bartow<\/strong>. Johnson is a sexual\noffender based on a 1999 conviction for lewd and lascivious battery on a child\nunder 16 years of age. Transients are required to register every 30 days.\nDetectives determined Johnson was late registering on five different occasions\nbetween February and September 2019. He was arrested and charged with one count\nFailure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelvin Joyce, 55, a\ntransient in Lake Alfred<\/strong>.\nJoyce is a sexual offender based on a 1993 conviction for sexual battery by an\nadult on a victim under 12 years of age. Transients are required to register\nevery 30 days. Detectives determined Joyce was late registering on two\ndifferent occasions in 2019. He was arrested and charged with two counts\nFailure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Mack, 35, of\n2520 US Hwy 92 West #8, Winter Haven<\/strong>. Mack is a sexual offender based on a 2009 conviction for lewd\nand lascivious battery on a victim between 12-15 years of age. During an\nunrelated investigation, detectives learned Mack forced his way into a woman\u2019s\nhouse and committed battery. The woman was his ex-girlfriend, who also told\ndetectives that he was staying at the Lak Mar Motel. The address he registered\nis not the motel address. Detectives obtained a warrant for burglary with\nbattery, and four counts Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws.\nHe was arrested and remains in the Polk County Jail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guy Odell, 42, of 5630\nKemen Drive, Lakeland<\/strong>. Odell is a sexual\noffender based on a 1998 conviction for lewd and lascivious battery on a child\nunder 16 years of age. He has a prior arrest and conviction for failure to\ncomply with sex offender laws. Odell was arrested in September 2019 for failing\nto register in July. He was arrested in October for failing to report a\nFacebook account, failure to update his FL identification card, and failure to\nreport two registered vehicles (four counts Failure to Comply with Sex Offender\nRegistration laws).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russell Cowles, 41, of\n534 Lazy Lake Drive East, Lakeland<\/strong>. Cowles is a sexual offender based on a 2012 conviction for\ntraveling to meet a minor to commit a sex act, and use of a computer to solicit\na child. Cowles was arrested in August 2019 for failing to report a registered\nvehicle. He was arrested in October for failing to register two other vehicles\nthat he has access to at his resident (two counts Failure to Comply with Sex\nOffender Registration laws).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Hart, Jr., 47,\nof 9025 Beverly Hills Rd, Lakeland<\/strong>. Hart is a sexual offender based on a 1998 conviction for\nsexual battery with a weapon or forced. Hart failed to report two registered\nvehicles, and was arrested for two counts Failure to Comply with Sex Offender\nRegistration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shannon Holland, 40,\nof 4926 Tropical Moon Lane, Auburndale<\/strong>. Holland is a sexual offender based on a 2001 conviction for\nlewd and lascivious battery on a minor between 12-15 years of age. He was\nrecently released from prison and is on felony probation until 2027. Detectives\nfound a Facebook page belonging to Holland, and also failed to register a cell\nphone. He was arrested for two counts Failure to Comply with Sex Offender\nRegistration laws, and Violation of Probation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ronald Blair, 54, of\n3375 Susetta Lane, Lakeland<\/strong>.\nBlair is a sexual offender based on a 1994 conviction for sexual battery. He\nfailed to report a registered vehicle at his address. He was arrested for\none count Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gary Shields, 43, of\n526 Lazy Lake Drive East, Lakeland<\/strong>. Shields is a sexual offender based on a 2006 conviction for\nproviding obscene material to a minor and lewd and lascivious exhibition on a\nvictim under 16 years of age. He is on probation until 2023. Detectives were\ncontacted by Shields\u2019 probation officer, who let them know that Shields was in\nviolation of his probation for not participating in and completing a sex\noffender treatment program. He was arrested for six counts VOP, and transferred\nto Highlands County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodney Montgomery, 51,\nof 512 Broadway Blvd SE, Polk City<\/strong>. Montgomery is a sexual offender based on a traveling to meet a\nminor to commit a sex act conviction. He was arrested for failing to register\nhis address in August 2019, failure to update his FL identification card, and\nfailure to report a registered vehicle (three counts Failure to Comply with Sex\nOffender Registration laws).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awny Basta, 52, of\n1380 Clower Street East, Bartow<\/strong>. Basta is a sexual offender based on 2009 and 2011\nconvictions in Tennessee for two counts sexual battery without consent. Detectives\nlearned Basta was a transient but failed to register as a transient, and\nmaintained a registered address at a vacant home. He was arrested for three\ncounts Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Convicted sex offenders\nand sex predators are required by Florida law to register and maintain updated\ninformation regarding the following identifying information: name; social\nsecurity number; age; race; sex; date of birth; height; weight; tattoos or\nother identifying marks; hair and eye color; photograph; address of legal\nresidence (or temporary residence); electronic mail addresses; Internet\nidentifiers and each Internet identifier’s corresponding website homepage or\napplication software name; home telephone numbers and cellular telephone numbers;\nemployment information; driver’s license or Florida ID information; the make,\nmodel, color, vehicle identification number (VIN), and license tag number of\nall vehicles owned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In collaboration with the Florida Sheriff\u2019s Association Task Force Operation \u201cHallowed Streets,\u201d the Polk County Sheriff\u2019s Office Special Victims Response Team conducted Operation \u201cTrick-Or-Treat\u201d during the month of October, 2019.… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","default_image_id":71799,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sheriffs-corner"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4659\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}