Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Two more individuals had their probable cause hearings this week after being arrested during a sex offender compliance operation in Craighead County.
Dubbed “Operation Sentinel,” the three-day sweep began on Sept. 22 to ensure registered sex offenders in the county were following all registry requirements and not committing new offenses.
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The multi-agency effort involved Craighead County deputies, the Jonesboro Police Department, Arkansas Probation and Parole, and Homeland Security. In total, law enforcement contacted 85 registered sex offenders, finding 22 out of compliance and arresting them.
On Sept. 30, District Judge David Boling found probable cause to charge 48-year-old Nathan Warren, of Jonesboro, with a class C felony: failure to register – failure to comply with reporting requirements.
The probable cause affidavit said deputies visited Warren’s registered address in the 400 block of County Road 395 on Sept. 23 to conduct a compliance check. The property owner informed them that Warren had walked to Paragould approximately three weeks prior.
When Warren went to the sheriff’s office on Sept. 28, he was read his Miranda rights and questioned about his registry. Warren claimed he had received a vision from God instructing him to take his boots and Bible to Paragould to preach the gospel. He was informed that because he did not update his registry to reflect his location in Paragould, he would be charged with failure to register.
It was noted at Wednesday’s hearing that Warren had six prior failure to register offenses and a failure to appear. Because of this, his bond was set at $75,000 cash/surety with the requirement to wear a GPS ankle monitor upon release. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 23.
On Sept. 28, District Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to charge 26-year-old Lathan James Mcleod, of Brookland, with a failure to register offense.
The probable cause affidavit said a probation and parole agent conducted a compliance check at Mcleod’s residence on Sloan Street in Brookland on Sept. 25.
During a search of Mcleod’s digital devices, the agent found multiple unauthorized accounts that were not listed on his official sex offender registration, including a TikTok account and two email addresses.
Investigators further discovered that Mcleod had started a business, which he also failed to report or add to his mandatory registration. He was taken into custody by parole officers on the scene and transported to the Craighead County Sheriff’s Department
Mcleod is currently out on a $35,000 cash/surety bond. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 26.
JRN previously reported that 20 of the 22 individuals arrested during the operation had probable cause hearings on Sept. 26 and Sept. 28.
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