Palm Coast, FL - A man released from the Flagler County Jail on September 3 is again in custody. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office says 39-year-old Andre Watkins, a convicted sex offender, gave a fake address to law enforcement so that his mother's "daycare" business would not suffer.
Watkins was charged with Domestic-Aggravated Stalking after Injunction and Violating an Injunction - Stalking. He was released on September 3. Ten days later, on September 13, for a Sexual Offender address verification. When he was released, Watkins claimed he would be staying in the woods behind the Palm Coast Walmart until he could get a permanent residence.
Deputies did not find Watkins behind the Walmart. They followed up by checking at his mother's home on Ponderosa Lane in Palm Coast. She told deputies that she had not seen her son recently and that he did not live in her home. Watkins contacted deputies later the same day, saying he was staying at a home in the Seminole Woods area and would update his address on September 16.
A trip to the address in the Seminole Woods area resulted in the resident telling deputies that Watkins did not live there and was living with his mother. Deputies went to the address on Ponderosa Lane on Sunday, September 15, where Watkins opened the door. He told officers that he lied about his address so that his mother would not get in trouble.
Now, Watkins and maybe his mother, are both in trouble. An arrest warrant was issued for Watkins on September 16. He was arrested and charged with Failure to Properly Register as a Sex Offender. A judge ordered him held without bond. The Florida Department of Children & Families has been notified and they will determine whether Watkin's mother is operating a daycare that is legally licensed.
“Sex offender rules are not optional,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “If you are designated a sex offender in Flagler County, know that our deputies will follow up with you to ensure that you comply with the regulations. Lying to us about your address is highly discouraged because we will find you and you will go back to jail. Our deputies and detectives did a great job in getting this offender back in an address we can verify, the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.”
