LAKE COUNTY – This week state and local authorities took part in a sweep to ensure convicted sex offenders are complying with registration, parole and probation requirements.

This past Wednesday, May 12, the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit coordinated a Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force compliance and enforcement operation in Lake County. The operation was countywide and included all Lake County cities and communities, according to Capt. James Bauman.

Wednesday’s operation was coordinated by Detective Mike Curran of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Bauman reported.

He said 45 law enforcement officers from 11 different federal, state and local public safety agencies formed seven teams of five to six officers each, to contact a total of 70 convicted sex offenders in the county who are either currently on California Department of Corrections parole or local probation. Ninety-eight percent of the target subjects were convicted felons.

During the day-long operation, a total of 15 arrests were made for a total of 10 parole violations, one felony probation violation, two misdemeanor probation violations and four served misdemeanor arrest warrants, said Bauman.

Several computers were seized for forensic examinations of suspected unlawful content and two new cases were opened to investigate suspected sex registrant violations, he said. Fresh charges are also anticipated on some of the arrests pending further investigation.

Wednesday’s operation included members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Lake County Probation, and the Clear Lake office of the California Highway Patrol, Bauman reported.

Agencies outside Lake County assisting with Wednesday’s operation included California State Parole, the U.S. Marshall’s Service, and Region II SAFE Task Force members from Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties.

The Region II SAFE Task Force is charged with monitoring convicted sex offenders and enforcing the terms of sex registration, state parole, local probation and compliance with other state laws, Bauman said. The Region II SAFE Task Force is comprised of agents from Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, Solano, Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties.

SAFE Task Force operations are grant funded and include a public awareness component as part of the grant program, Bauman reported. Here in Lake County, public education presentations are available to any group or organization, particularly parent-teacher organizations, on Internet predator safety and can be arranged by contacting Detective Mike Curran at 707-262-4200.

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