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Edgefield County and Criminal Sex Offenders Edgefielddaily.com web posted April 23, 2005 Staff reporting With the recent rash of child abductions, molestations, and even deaths making national headlines Edgefield Daily.com took a look at the dark reality most people shy away from, sexual criminals in our area. In almost every nationally covered story the families of victims said they wish they had known there was a convicted sexual offender living nearby, or even next door. The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office is required to keep a Sex Offender Registry as a result of Chapter 3, Title 23 of the SC Code of Laws, amended by Act 444 of 1996. The law requires the registration of any person, regardless of age, residing in the state of South Carolina that has been convicted of a sex offense. The state data base is maintained by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Currently Edgefield County has 44 registered sex offenders listed in our county. This list does not include those who have been charged with sexual crimes that have not been adjudicated in court or pleas not entered on those charges. There are several in our county awaiting trial on very serious criminal charges like incest, molestation, and crimes involving very young children. Edgefield County Sheriff Adell Dobey says he is required to inform principles of public and private schools, administrators of day care facilities, and family dare care centers annually of an offender whose address is within one-half mile of the school or business. The Sheriff stated his department sends out a complete list of the entire registry to the above mentioned annually as well. Getting people to take notice of the darker side of some of our residents is difficult according to Sheriff Dobey. “I have held talks with groups of people, 100 or more at a time, and informed them of these offenders. Even after telling them there were some in their own neighborhoods, only two or three walked up afterwards to view the list,” he said. Perhaps some feel safer if they just don’t know. However, we feel it is important to know where these individuals are in our community. Their presence does not bring a certainty of criminal sexual activity, but being informed of these individuals is certainly a matter of public health, welfare, and safety. More so with the crimes some of these individuals have been convicted of. We asked Sheriff Dobey about some of the more hideous sexual crimes committed recently but he refuse to comment citing ongoing investigations forbade,” releasing any information before the matter can be presented in court.” He reiterated one of the main themes of his administration however, proactive law enforcement. Even with the Sheriff’s deputies and other local law enforcement agencies around the county they cannot be everywhere all the times. He urged citizens to report any suspicious activities or persons saying it was a vital part of the proactive law enforcement process. Citizens should be involved in the happenings in their community. Edgefield County is built on the close knit communities where everyone knows everyone. That closeness, not nosiness, kept the area crime rate in check for so long. Now, however, with recent influxes of growth in certain areas that involvement seems to be slipping. The old cliché of, “I don’t want to get involved,” has replaced willing witnesses. A public trend Sheriff Dobey hopes to overcome. “I encourage people to call me,” the Sheriff said adding his door is always open to the citizens of Edgefield County. Sheriff Dobey also noted that Edgefield County was the first to upload a sex offender's picture to the internet. Edgefield Daily.com has created a Sex Offenders list of local registrants including pictures, descriptions, and last known addresses and asks that everyone take the time to review the list. Edgefield Daily.com does not maintain a Sex Offenders Registry and the information provided is time based on this writing. Those convicted at a later date will not be added to the list. The list is offered only as a Public Service of this web site and the accuracy of the information contained is the responsibility of the reporting state agency. Registered Sex Offenders for Edgefield County Return to
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