Lake County tracks down sex offenders

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has been updating its portion of the state Sexual and Violent Offender Registry.

Last week, deputies checked on the residences of more than 30 offenders in the county who were deemed noncompliant for various reasons.

The work was done in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service and an investigator with the special investigations unit of the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations.

There are 78 registered sex offenders and 88 registered violent offenders living in Lake County.

Of those, 26 violent offenders and seven sex offenders were listed as noncompliant prior to the checks. Deputies were able to bring into compliance four of the violent offenders and all of the sex offenders.

Among the offenders located was Phillip James Pierre Jr., who is designated a sexually violent predator. He was arrested in the Polson area after officers checked two different addresses.

 He now is in the Lake County Jail awaiting arraignment on a charge of failing to register.

Offenders who fail to notify the Sheriff’s Office within three days of an address change are subject to the charge, which can include a penalty of up to five years in jail as well as further federal penalties under the Adam Walsh Act of 2006.

For more information on the registry or to search the registered addresses of offenders, visit doj.mt.gov/svor.