Stanton County sees rise in sex offender arrests

STANTON, Neb. -- Law enforcement… it isn’t an easy job.

That can be said for the officers at the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office after they saw an increase in arrests of sex offenders in the past few months.

Sheriff Mike Unger attributes the increase in arrests due to sex offenders not keeping up with the rules. 

"It is a criminal offense in Nebraska for a sex offender registrant not to comply with the rules, Sheriff Unger said. "And the rules are quite stringent and I'll be honest with you, it is tough for some of the persons on the registry to maintain that, but it is their obligation."

Once they are released from jail, sex offenders have a list of obligations they need to comply with.

"Those that are on the registry are required to report to our office every three months physically and they are also required to update things as minimal as the changing of a vehicle, someone new living in their residence, contact with people underage at that residence," Sheriff Unger said.

If they don’t follow one of these steps, they face arrest and can be prosecuted in court.

"A lot of times people that don't follow up with their required three months reporting is a violation. That is actually a felony if they don't report. We usually give them some leeway, a few extra days," said Sheriff Unger. "But if they don't, then we actually go out and make contact and we will make an arrest and book them for that violation. Then, we will forward that violation to the county attorney who may or may not prosecute them."

For more information on the subject, visit the official Nebraska government website.