LAKE COUNTY — On Wednesday 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 county-wide and included all Lake County cities and communities.
The operation was coordinated by Detective Mike Curran of the Lake County Sheriff”s Department. Forty-five 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; 98 percent of the target subjects were convicted felons.
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. Computers were seized for forensic examinations of suspected unlawful content and two new cases were opened to investigate suspected sex registrant violations.
Fresh charges are also anticipated on some of the arrests pending further investigation.
The operation included members of the Lake County Sheriff”s Office, the Lake County District Attorney”s Office, Lake County Probation and Highway Patrol.
Agencies outside Lake County assisting included California State Parole, the U.S. Marshal”s Service and Region II SAFE Task Force members from Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties.
SAFE Task Force operations are grant funded. 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 262-4200.
