A Riverside County Sheriff’s Department sweep targeting registered sex offenders in the southwest county region to confirm their compliance with parole and probation requirements netted three arrests, authorities said Thursday.
Deputies supported by District Attorney’s Office personnel conducted the operation at “numerous residences” Tuesday in French Valley, other unincorporated communities surrounding Murrieta and in Temecula, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Narciso.
Sex registrants are required under California Penal Code section 290 to notify authorities in local jurisdictions when and exactly where they have established residency. The law also prohibits an offender from having contact with minors, other than relatives, as well as imposing other restrictions.
“Three sex offenders were found in violation of their court-ordered probation terms and were arrested for the violations,” Narciso said.
Joseph Edward Hernandez, 20, and Matthew Charles Lopez, 41, both of French Valley, along with Scott Allen Miller, 42, of Temecula were all booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of probation violations.
Lopez is being held without bail, while Hernandez is being held on $50,000 bail. Miller posted a $50,000 bond and was released from custody Wednesday.
“The (sheriff) aggressively pursues prosecution of those sex registrants who fail to comply with their registration requirements and probation or parole terms,” Narciso said.
Additional sweeps are planned on undisclosed dates.
Anyone with concerns that a registrant may be in their neighborhood and out of compliance with state law may contact the Riverside County District Attorney’s Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement — SAFE — Team at 951-723-3595, or send an email message with details to reportanoffender@rivcosafe.org.
Further information on offenders is available via the state’s Megan’s Law web portal: www.meganslaw.ca.gov.