WA gov launches sex offender crackdown

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire and law enforcement officials in five counties are launching Operation Crackdown to catch dozens of sex offenders who are back on the streets, but haven't registered with authorities.

The governor, joined by sheriffs at her weekly news conference, called it a broad sweep by special units to locate and arrest sex offenders who have outstanding warrants. The state program, patterned after the U.S. marshal's Operation Falcon, will put more manpower on the streets during two-week crackdowns.

The cost, including overtime, could reach $100,000.

The program got under way in Yakima and King counties on Monday, with three arrests reported in Yakima. Later this week, the operation begins in Chelan and Douglas counties and next week extends to the Spokane area. More counties are to follow and repeat patrols will be authorized if needed.

The program is a follow-up to the new state law that makes it a felony to fail to register as a sex offender once released from prison. Chelan and King sheriffs said each of their counties have more than 30 offenders with outstanding warrants, most for failure to register.

King County Sheriff Sue Rahr said the county jail has enough space for new inmates.

Gregoire also announced that Attorney General Rob McKenna has given approval to expanding the state's ankle-bracelet monitoring of some high-risk sex offenders in their home communities.

The program, which began a few months ago, has about a dozen offenders on electronic monitoring, said acting state prison chief Eldon Vail. Originally, the state thought the bracelets could be ordered only for inmates who were convicted in the last few years, an estimated 50 ex-cons, but McKenna's opinion now allows that program to expand to perhaps 150, picking up inmates whose convictions were as early as 2000 and 2001, he said.

"Parents and community members need to know where sex offenders live so they can assist law enforcement in keeping our communities safe," Gregoire said. "When sex offenders violate the terms of their community supervision, they will be held accountable."

The actions grew out of a sex offender task force Gregoire appointed. The governor and her advisers have asked the Legislature to greatly expand community tracking of offenders and allow broader use of DNA testing.

The proposals include getting DNA samples for all registered sex offenders and expanding the new electronic monitoring program to Level 3 offenders who have already completed community supervision.

Recommendations also include a separate new sentencing system for sex offenders, stronger programs to track offenders in the community, more victims' advocates, and better communications among the courts.

The Democratic governor appointed the panel in response to the case of Terapon Adhahn, a convicted sex offender who pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, rape and murder charges in the July abduction and slaying of 12-year-old Zina Linnik of Tacoma.

The group was headed by Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge, and included representatives of law enforcement, sentencing experts, sex assault programs and victims' groups.