59 sex offenders targeted in compliance checks

The U.S. Marshals Service, District of Guam and the CNMI, in collaboration with the CNMI DPS Sex Offender Registry, the CNMI Office of Parole, CNMI Office of Adult Probation, and the U.S Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, hold a press conference at the Superior Court in Susupe. (Jayson Camacho)

A total of 59 offenders in the CNMI were targeted during a three-day compliance check of registered sex offenders conducted by the U.S Marshals Service, Districts of Guam and CNMI.

The three-day operation was part of “Operation Deviant Guard,” an initiative that is the fourth of similar operations conducted in the past.

U.S Marshals’ Frank Leon Guerrero said that they are working with the Department of Public Safety and other agencies to make the CNMI a lot safer for everyone.

“We’re working on forming a relationship with citizens in the CNMI also,” he said.

The three-day operation resulted in the successful verification and location of the 59 offenders.

According to Jason Tarkong, officer-in-charge of the DPS Sex Offender Registry, four sex offenders are on Rota, eight are on Tinian, and 34 are on Saipan.

“Out of the 34 [on Saipan], only four have been released while 30 still remain at the Department of Corrections,” Tarkong said.

One was arrested for non-compliance and failure to register.

According to Leon Guerrero, sex offenders are required by law to declare in writing the actual living address at which he or she will reside upon release.

CNMI law states that the intentional failure to provide a timely and accurate written declaration shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 and one year of imprisonment.

During the operation, law enforcement authorities also seized several potted marijuana plants, ranging from seedlings to seven feet tall.

According to authorities, the task force came upon the marijuana plants that were in plain view of a residence located next to a registered sex offender’s home in Dandan.

A total of 63 marijuana plants were seized, taken into evidence, and turned over to narcotics officers for follow-up investigations.

John Untalan, Senior Inspector of the U.S Marshal Services, said that another 25 marijuana plants were seized from a sex offender’s house in Papago and 28 marijuana plants from sex offenders in San Vicente.

“The street value is estimated to be at over $3,500, and that is a pretty big amount,” Untalan said.

Other agencies involved in the operation were the Office of Parole, Office of Adult Probation, Department of Corrections, the Guam Police Department, Judiciary of Guam Marshals Division, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Guam Department of Corrections.