The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced on April 1 the arrest of 17 sexual offenders and sexual predators during a four-day operation in Columbia County. The operation was conducted with the assistance of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Lake City Police Department, Florida Department of Corrections, and the State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit.
The arrests are part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with Florida’s registration laws for sex offenders and predators. Authorities say these operations help maintain public safety by verifying that individuals required to register are following legal requirements.
During the enforcement action, law enforcement officials made contact with 264 registrants residing in Columbia County. Members from FDLE’s Enforcement and Investigative Support Bureau and Live Oak Field Office worked alongside local agencies to conduct verification interviews with each individual. As a result, 13 sexual offenders and four sexual predators were apprehended for various violations including failure to report changes in residence, vehicles, email addresses, employment status, or internet identifiers. Additionally, David Alan Schwab was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Outagamie County, Wisconsin.
Eight other subjects were identified as having absconded from their registered address during this operation. All suspects taken into custody were booked into the Columbia County Jail; Schwab is expected to be extradited to Wisconsin.
The State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit will prosecute these cases. FDLE said its Missing Persons and Offender Enforcement Division continues to partner with local law enforcement across Florida to verify compliance with registration laws that require sex offenders and predators to provide detailed personal information at their local sheriff’s office.
Citizens can access information about registered sex offenders through the FDLE Mobile App or by searching online at Florida’s Sex Offender Registry.
