Operation Rolling Rock Conducted in Eastern Panhandle

Martinsburg, WV – The U.S. Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police joined forces and resources to conduct sex offender compliance checks in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

Operation Rolling Rock was an operation funded by the U.S. Marshals Sex Offender Investigations Branch. The operation provided $21,600 in overtime funds to the West Virginia State Police to conduct sex offender compliance checks. The operation began on March 22, 2015 and ended on March 29, 2015. The operation focused on Berkeley, Jefferson, Hampshire and Mineral Counties.

In West Virginia, the State Police is tasked with registering and monitoring persons who have been convicted of sex crimes. These four counties have approximately 700 offenders who are required to register. Offenders in West Virginia are required to update their registration annually, and the State Police verifies this information through compliance checks. Any offender found in non compliance of the registry may face criminal charges.

During Operation Rolling Rock, 585 compliance checks were attempted. Out of these checks, 342 offenders were found in compliance and 48 offenders were non compliant. The 48 non compliant offenders are being investigated, 19 arrests have been made, and 28 arrests are pending. One offender is being investigated for possible federal violations of the Sex Offender and Registration Notification Act.

The U.S. Marshals Sex Offender Investigations Branch partners with local and state governments to increase tracking of sexual offenders This partnership enhances monitoring of potentially dangerous predators.