Law enforcement teams just wrapped up a massive four-day sweep across Columbia County, resulting in the arrests of 17 men who allegedly skipped out on their legal registration requirements.
Dubbed “Operation Running Wild,” the crackdown involved a heavy-hitting coalition including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department.
Between the FDLE, local police, and the Florida Department of Corrections, investigators managed to track down and interview 264 registered individuals living in the area.
The goal was simple: make sure every offender and predator was actually living where they said they were and following the strict rules set by Florida law.
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By the end of the operation, 13 sexual offenders and four sexual predators were taken into custody.
The list of those apprehended includes Burley Kirkland, 50; Kenneth Brian Curry, 56; Geoffrey Paul Olin, 42; Jason Gregory Oliver, 46; Clinton Lee Bond, 41; David Lopez Rios, 53; Alvin Deshon Davis, 53; Eugene Scott Viola, 55; James Eric Cauthon, 53; Lawrence Hassebroek, 66; William James Rouse, 41; Kenneth Aubrey Hunter, 48; Richard Johnathan Simmons, 43; Vincent Sperando Jr., 73; Steve Ellis Sawyer, 62; Randy Rober Stokes, 46; and Paul Calvin Gunter, 42.
Most of these men are facing charges for failing to update the state on the basics—things like changes to their home addresses, the cars they drive, their email accounts, or their jobs.
One man, 63-year-old David Alan Schwab, was also picked up on an outstanding warrant from Outagamie County, Wisconsin, and is now waiting to be sent back there.
While 17 people are now behind bars at the Columbia County Jail, the work isn’t quite finished. Investigators noted that eight other subjects have officially “absconded,” meaning they’ve disappeared from their registered addresses and are currently on the run.
This operation is part of a statewide push to keep the Florida sex offender registry accurate. Under state law, these individuals are required to report everything from their phone numbers and internet handles to their passport details and current photos to the sheriff’s office.
The State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit will be handling the prosecution for all 17 cases.
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