HERNANDO, Miss. — District Attorney Matthew Barton announced today that Operation Creep Sweep has resulted in 58 felony indictments against sex offenders and predators who failed to meet strict registration requirements set by state law, which is mandatory for life.
The charges involve sex offenders who neglected to report required information such as social media accounts, vehicle registration, changes in residence, and employment status— requirements that must be updated continuously.
“These sick individuals have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted to integrate freely into society. These indictments send a strong message that any failure to comply will be held accountable and rigorously prosecuted by our office.” stated District Attorney Barton. “Compliance is not optional; they must be accounted for at all times.”
The felony indictments were the result of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department’s diligent efforts, including routine compliance checks on registered sex offenders who require ongoing monitoring. This proactive approach is essential for ensuring adherence to state laws and safeguarding public safety.
“The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department deserves a lot of credit for their success in diligently and consistently identifying these offenders who fail to satisfy their legal requirements, continued Barton. “Our Sheriff’s Department is responsible for keeping watch over these monsters, and sounding the alarm before they can reoffend.”
Offenders must present a valid registration receipt from their local sheriff’s office for all registrations, excluding currently active re-registrations. This requirement applies to various situations, including, but not limited to: non-compliant registrants, new registrants, temporary out-of-state registrants, and incarcerated releases.
The Mississippi Sex Offender Registry is available online and searchable through the Mississippi Sex Offender Registry website.
