JACKSON Co., FL (WTXL) - The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is saying over the last six weeks, 7 sexual offenders have been arrested for failing to register.
According to the department, there are 167 sexual offenders that Deputies must keep track of throughout the county.
Deputies say they are working to step up their compliance and enforcement of these individuals and that these arrests are a result of those efforts.
Below is information on each of the offenders provided by the Sheriff's Office:
Christopher Lynn "Catfish" Hadden, 36, of Mercedes Ln. near Marianna was arrested on 6-30-15 after the Sheriff's Office learned that he had been residing at an address on Fieldstone Ct. for more than 10 days without registering it as a temporary address. Further investigation revealed that Hadden had not changed the address on his driver's license to Mercedes Lane approximately one year earlier when he moved from Dozier Rd. He also did not report in to the Sheriff's Office upon being released from jail approximately one month prior, as required by Florida law and had an unregistered Facebook page.
John Dawson, 53, of Marianna was arrested on 7-13-15 at the Executive Inn in Marianna and charged with Failure to Register a Change of Address after members of the Jackson County Drug Task Force learned that he had been living at that location while listing another motel as his home. He was also charged with numerous drug offenses including Manufacturing Methamphetamines, Possession of Methamphetamines, Possession of Paraphernalia, and 3 Counts of Possession of Prescription Drugs without a Prescription.
Ron Christopher Wooden, 43, of Marianna was arrested on a warrant on 7-27-15 after an address verification revealed that he had moved from his listed address on Hall St. to Panama City Florida without notifying the Sheriff's Office. The investigation also revealed that he had obtained a cell phone and had not registered the number with authorities, as required by law. The warrant was for Failure to Register a Change of Address and Failure to Register a Telephone Number.
Kenneth Robertson Jr., age 38, of Flynt Dr. was arrested on 7-28-15 on a Jackson County warrant for Failure to Register a Change of Address. A routine address verification revealed that he had been residing on Panama City Beach for approximately six weeks without notifying our Sheriff's Office. Once a local warrant was obtained, Bay County assisted by locating and arresting Robertson. He was charged additionally by the Bay County Sheriff's Office for Failure to Register in their county. Once he has served his sentence there, he will be extradited to face local charges.
Steven Baxter, age 40, of Tallahassee was taken into custody at an address on Arizona St. in Alford on 6-26-15 after an arrest warrant was obtained by the Leon County Sheriff's Office for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in their county. Baxter also had an address listed on Gardenview Rd. in our county as a temporary address. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office was assisted in the arrest by the U.S. Marshall's Task Force.
Thomas Jefferson Barnwell Jr., age 39, of Kirkland Rd. was arrested in Biloxi Ms. on 8-10-15 on a Jackson County warrant for Failure to Register a Temporary Change of Address and Failure to Register Upon Leaving the State. An address verification on 7-23-15 revealed that Barnwell had travelled to Eunice Louisiana without notifying our Sheriff's Office of his intention to leave the state. The vehicle he was riding in was stopped in Biloxi and he was arrested after the warrant was discovered. He was extradited to Marianna on 8-21-15 to face charges.
Johnny Lee Chapman, 51, of Vista Rd., south of Marianna, was taken into custody on 8-24-15. The Sheriff's Office Sex Offender Compliance Division advised Chapman on May 18th that he had 48 hours to have the address changed on his driver's license since he had recently moved. When the S.O.C. Officer returned to do a follow-up, he learned that Chapman had established another residence without notifying the Sheriff's Office and still had not corrected his license. Chapman was contacted by phone, but refused to meet with the Officer. He was subsequently listed as an absconder. Chapman was located at a residence on Jackson St. in Marianna and arrested. He was charged with Failure to Change the Address on his Driver's License or I.D. Card and Failure to Register Change of Permanent Address.
