60 sex offenders checked out in sweep

The CNMI, Guam, and federal agencies launched this week on Saipan the second Operation Deviant Guard, a four-day compliance check targeting 60 registered sex offenders.

For the first time, the task force collected DNA samples from registered sex offenders using cheek swabs that will be submitted to a Federal Bureau of Investigation laboratory.

The operation, which began Monday, resulted in the location and verification of all 60 sex offenders, according to John Untalan, a senior inspector of the U.S. Marshals for the Districts of Guam/NMI, in a news briefing at the Department of Corrections’ conference room.

Untalan said two were arrested for not complying with rules that require them to inform authorities if they change address, two were found to have already died, and one was found to have already been deported to Yap.

Under local and federal laws, any person convicted of a sex crime is required to register as a sex offender.

“In terms of the success of the operation, I have to say that it’s an overwhelming success. Thanks to the efforts of everyone here,” Untalan said.

Citing their first operation in July 2011, Untalan said it is an ongoing effort by the U.S. Marshal Service and that they will be conducting future operations.

Untalan said that Guam right now has over 400 sex offenders that are registered. “We are going to be conducting an operation in the near future [in] Guam,” he said.

The task force also reportedly seized during the sweep marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $2,800.

Untalan said the marijuana plants were turned over to the Department of Public Safety for eradication and investigation.

Police officer Jason Tarkong said that all registered sex offenders are to provide DNA samples to DPS pursuant to the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and the CNMI Sex Offender Registry Public Law 17-49.

Tarkong said the task force obtained DNA samples from the registered sex offenders and forwarded them to the FBI database.

“That’s the first time we ever collected DNA samples,” said Tarkong, who is also the officer-in-charge of the DPS Sex Offender Registry Unit.

Tarkong said the two arrested offenders were subsequently released, but their cases will be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution.

U.S. Marshal for Districts of Guam/NMI Frank Leon Guerrero said they brought in for the operation eight U.S. Marshals from Guam. Through the compliance service, he said they make sure that all registered sex offenders are checked using modern technologies.

DNA samples are taken from registered sex offenders so it can provide positive identification if there is evidence that they are involved in other crimes like homicide and robbery, he said.

DPS Commissioner Ramon C. Mafnas said it was a joint operation that involved not just the local police and U.S. Marshals Service but also the CNMI Board of Parole, CNMI Office of Adult Probation, Judiciary of Guam Marshals Division, and Guam Department of Corrections.

In July 2011, Deviant Guard targeted 50 registered sex offenders in the CNMI. The operation resulted in the location and verification of 40 offenders, the arrest of five for non-compliance, and seizure of $7,000 worth of marijuana plants.