NEW BERN — While most people were sleeping early Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, Carolina Community Corrections, and sheriff’s deputies in Craven, Jones and Carteret counties were making sure convicted sex offenders were complying with the law.
U.S. Marshal Scott Parker of the Eastern District of North Carolina gave a news briefing at the Craven County Judicial Center Thursday morning on “Operation Infinite Justice.”
The law enforcement operation is ongoing and designed to check on the compliance of 229 registered sex offenders in Craven, Jones and Carteret counties.
There were eight arrests during the two days on charges including failure to report a change of address, possession of firearms by a felon and drug possession.
Parker said more arrests are expected.
Craven County Sheriff Jerry G. Monette said there were 188 registered sex offenders in Craven County.
Law enforcement officers are constantly checking up on registered sex offenders living in a community to make sure they are living where they are registered to live and are complying with their probation restrictions, Monette said.
“Those are the things we have to stay on top of and make sure they are not trying to pull a fast one because if they can get by with something they are certainly going to and these types of operations keeps them honest,” he said.
Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck said trying to verify a sex offender’s residency is not always an easy thing to do and that law enforcement depends on the public to keep them notified if they have any information.
“We do consider them our eyes and ears,” he said. “…In our county, we have 91 registered sex offenders. Several of them are currently sitting in prison because somebody in the community called us and they passed along some information and we were able to follow up and charge those individuals.”
Jones County Sheriff Danny Heath said his county has a “strict zero tolerance policy for any violations” when it came to sex offenders.
“For the past two days, we proved just that,” Heath said. “… The people of Jones County and surrounding counties should know we are going to stay on top of this, their safety is what’s paramount.”
District Attorney Scott Thomas commended everyone involved in the operation.
“Sex offender laws are designed to protect citizens and law enforcement officers to know the location of sex offenders in our counties,” Thomas said. “The goals are public safety and protection of the citizens. When offenders fail to register and comply with these sex offender laws, citizens are put at risk.”
The compliance checks conducted through Operation Infinite Justice send two clear messages to convicted sex offenders, Thomas said.
“First, that law enforcement officers and prosecutors are closely monitoring them and their actions,” he said. “Second, those violators will not be ignored; they will be prosecuted if they are in violation.”
Thomas said he looked forward to more coordinated efforts between local, state and federal agencies to protect citizens from criminal activity.
Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com.