DeLand, FL - The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is reporting 76 arrests of sexual offenders and predators for failure of compliance to register. 'Operation Neptune' was a three-month effort to enforce registration laws that found compliance in hundreds of cases across Volusia County.
The joint operation between VCSO, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement began on May 1, 2019, and concluded at the end of last week. The effort included VCSO detectives, deputies and civilian staff working alongside state and federal agents to check out over 80 percent of the more than 1,000 total offenders and predators living in Volusia County.
Those facing additional charges include 58-year-old sexual predator Randy Doncaster who was arrested at his registered address on a parole violation warrant. VCSO said Doncaster was later found to be in possession of child pornography on an electronic device. Additional charges are pending.
Another man, 52-year-old Alfred Wilkes, a known sex offender, was arrested on a warrant for failure to register. He also faces additional charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition. Detectives learned that Wilkes had paid his $500 back rent to his landlord with a Taurus Judge .45 caliber revolver. It's also reported that Wilkes has access to several other firearms.
A concerned citizen notified the Sheriff's Office that sexual predator Anthony Mendez was operating a Facebook account in violation of his conditions. Further investigation found that Mendez had purchased a cell phone and got an email address with giving that information to the Sheriff's Office as required.
Detectives say that 57-year-old Anthony Timothy was keeping a wild raccoon in a cage inside his small apartment. He's charged with violating an FWC order on captive wildlife and violation of probation.
“We have a registration system for a reason,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “We need to know where sex offenders and predators are living in our community, what vehicles they drive, and whether they’re complying with the conditions of their release. That’s part of our responsibility to protect Volusia County, and registered offenders and predators should know that we’ll be coming around again in the future.”
