Operation Neighborhood Watch Concluded in Gallia and Meigs Counties

Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies Join Forces to Protect our Communities

 Gallipolis and Pomeroy, Ohio  – The United States Marshals Service in the Southern District of
Ohio, the State of Ohio Adult Parole Authority, the State of Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification
and Investigation (BCI) and the men and women of the  Gallia County and Meigs County Sheriff’s
Offices conducted a joint law enforcement effort to verify the residency of local sex offenders in
their counties. During January 25-28, 2010, Deputy Sheriffs, Deputy U.S. Marshals, Adult Parole
Officers and BCI Agents teamed up in the third of a continuing Federal Operation known as
Operation Neighborhood Watch Eastern Borders. This initiative is a collaborative law enforcement
effort that is designed to keep the public safe by ensuring that these offenders are complying
with sex offender registration obligations and residing where they have reported.  Of special interest,
the U.S. Marshals Service in the Southern District of West Virginia and several West Virginia state
and local law enforcement agencies completed similar actions in Mason and Jackson counties during
the same timeframe. 

 In Gallia County, four out of thirty three registered sex offenders were found to be out of compliance
and are facing possible local charges including additional charges of firearms violations and parole
violation. In addition, four other subjects were arrested on other criminal charges. Included in those
arrested was Jeffrey Watkins, one of Gallia's Most Wanted Fugitives.
(http://www.galliasheriff.org/wanted.htm)

 In Meigs County, of the thirty five registered sex offenders, twenty four were located and verified
as being in compliance with their registration requirements. Brian Barney, Brian Stewart and Timothy
Ball were arrested for failure to register.  In addition, six other subjects were located and arrested
based upon other criminal violations.  

 Sheriff Joe Browning said, “The assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service is greatly appreciated.
Coordinated multi-agency efforts like we have done here the past two days definitely send the message
that sex offenders living in our communities must stay in compliance, and that the offenders are being
checked on. This effort should be a comfort to our citizens and definitely shows that your local Sheriff’s
Office can obtain federal assistance when needed. “

 Sheriff Robert E. Beegle stated,  “I welcome the assistance provided to my office by the members
of the task force.  We take seriously the requirements placed on the sex offenders by the court and
the law and want to make sure they are following the rules. Operations like this benefit the citizens
of Meigs County and help make our county's citizens safer.”

 Interim United States Marshal Cathy Jones commented, “The collaborative efforts of all of the
federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in this operation sends a clear message
that we stand together to protect our communities. For those sex offenders that are not registered
and are on the run or in hiding, ‘We are determined to locate you and will not stop until we do so.
We have clearly shown that in the arrests of Brian Barney and Brian Stewart.’  We also want to
emphasize we appreciate the cooperation of all the citizens we encountered who provided tips
throughout the week.”

Deputy United States Marshal and Task Force leader Nicole Ralston said, “The state of Ohio
provides the Marshals with a weekly list of all non-compliant sex offenders. In Gallia County we
tracked down  Jerry Raines who had refused to follow his registration requirements and was
a fugitive for over 319 days.  In Meigs County, the task force targeted Brian Barney for
apprehension and locked him up after 586 days of being non-compliant in his registration
requirements and Brian Stewart who was 131 days out of compliance. Warrants had been issued
by the court for their arrest and the task force used its investigative expertise and the personal
knowledge of local police officers and deputy sheriffs to track them down and put them in jail.
The citizens of these counties are safer as a result of these arrests.”

To search for sex offenders in Gallia County, review safety tips, and learn more about your
local Sheriff’s office efforts, please visit http://www.galliasheriff.org/, and click on the tab
indicated as “Sexual Offenders”. To search for sex offenders in
Meigs County, please visit http://www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=53965 and
click on the tab indicated as “Search for Sex Offenders in your area”.   

If you reside outside of these two counties, you can also conduct your own sex offender search. 
One of the most important programs in the State of Attorney General's office is eSORN,
Ohio's Electronic Sex Offender Registration and Notification, one of the nation's preeminent
applications for locating and tracking registered sex offenders.  For more details, please visit: 
www.esorn.ag.state.oh.us

The U.S. Marshals Service is the lead law enforcement agency responsible for investigating
sex offender registration violations and related offenses in connection with violations of the
Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, which was enacted July 27, 2006.  As part
of this Act, the U.S. Marshals Service has been directed to assist state, local, tribal and
territorial authorities in the location and apprehension of non-compliant and fugitive sex
offenders.  Offenders that are found residing out of state can be charged federally and
often those charges carry more severe penalties.  To ensure the safety of children across
the country, the U.S. Marshals Service implemented an aggressive enforcement strategy. 
Since the law was enacted the Untied States Marshals Service has arrested 9,160 fugitives
for Sex Offenses, Failure to Register and Failure to Comply with Sex Offenders Registration
Requirements. To learn more, please visit:  www.usmarshals.gov