“He was quiet and kept to himself,” said one neighbor. “We would see him milling around his home but he never really spoke to anyone. As far as we were concerned he just wanted to be left alone.”

No wonder.

The neighbor’s comments in a recent article published regarding a sex crime had no idea the person in question was a convicted sexual predator. For all he and other neighbors knew the suspect was just a private person who didn’t venture out from his home or life. This incident has begged the question to some: Do you know who is living next to you and your children? Do you know if your children are truly safe when playing in their own neighborhood? The US Marshal’s Office and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department are trying to keep tabs on where convicted sex offenders are in Lauderdale County.

According to officials at the LCSD, agents from the US Marshal’s Office accompanied by investigators with the LCSD spent several days recently in the area making sure convicted sex offenders living here were in compliance with state and federal laws. Edna Clark, who is the sex offender coordinator for the LCSD said there are more than 200 convicted sex offenders living in Lauderdale County. Of that number 17 were listed for non-compliance but more importantly, nine are wanted for more severe offenses and penalties, officials said.

“This recent compliance check was conducted as part of a state mandated order in which the US Marshal’s Office comes down and helps us to account for everyone convicted of sex crimes,” said Clark. “Of the approximately two hundred sex offenders listed as living in Lauderdale County nine of them have warrants for their arrest.”

The compliance checks that were conducted in Lauderdale County and are continuing across the state are a part of Operation Angel Shield. Agents with the US Marshal’s Office join up with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to make sure convicted sex offenders are following the law.

“We had about seven US Marshal’s come down and along with our investigators and Edna they went to each and every registered sex offender’s home to make sure they were doing the right thing,” said LCSD Chief Dep. Ward Calhoun. “Unfortunately there was a small number who were not where they were supposed to be and we are now trying to locate them.”

Sex offenders are supposed to report to the nearest Mississippi Highway Patrol headquarters every 90 days to update their status. Sex offenders must list all their jobs, if they are going to college and anything else that may put them in contact with the general public. But convicted sex offenders worry Sheriff Billy Sollie.

“My worry comes from those who are convicted pedophiles,” said Sollie. “Their rehab is very difficult and they could relapse back into their predatory ways easily.”

Among those being sought at this time for various violations of the convicted sex offender law are, Willie Junior Solomon, Vice Howard, Jessie Jones, Shawn Miller, Richard Watts, Robert Brown, Albert Hare and John Hubbard. Sollie said if anyone knows the whereabouts of these individuals they are to call the sheriff’s department or their nearest law enforcement agency.

If you would like to see a list of those convicted sex offenders in Lauderdale County and where they are living you can log onto Crimereports.com or lauderdalesheriff.com and see pictures and addresses.

“Before Operation Angel Shield we did our own compliance checks,” said Clark. “But since the state mandated the marshal’s office assist us our information goes directly to the state level. The information is much more concise and readily available so this system is helping a great deal.”