MADDEN

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By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

When a sex offender fails to check in at the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, they are typically sent a letter giving them seven days to report. If they fail to appear then, a warrant is issued for their arrest, and they will most likely go back to prison.

“Sheriff (Marty V.) Donini has a zero-tolerance for sex offenders who miss appointments,” Scioto County Sheriff’s Capt. David Hall said.

Just such an incident has resulted in the Sheriff’s Office issuing a nationwide call for anyone who knows the whereabouts of Kailen Madden, 20, whose last known address was on Bertha Avenue in Portsmouth. Hall said Madden has not been at that address for a while.

Hall said Madden was released from prison in December 2010 after spending a year behind bars. He was convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and is listed as a Tier II sex offender.

“He reported in on July 1, 2011, and was supposed to report in six months later in December, and he failed to show up,” Hall said.

Hall said Madden is wanted on a charge of failure to verify, a third-degree felony, and failure to register.

“I have a lot of guys who check in regularly,” Hall said. “And everyone but this guy report regularly and I don’t have any problems with them. It’s not that hard to do — report on your date. He (Madden) failed to report on his registration date in December, so I make a phone call to the number he gives me and then I turn around and send a seven-day notice as required by state law to tell him he has seven days to report. On that eighth day is when I file on him and go looking for him for his arrest.”

Hall said one case, such as with Madden, has an adverse affect on the other offenders who are following the law.

“It does affect all of them because they may be doing well on their reporting status, and trying to do right for what they have done wrong,” Hall said. “But because of one person it causes a hardship on all of them, because most people will judge all by one.”

Hall said anyone with information should contact their local law enforcement agency. If the information is from Scioto County, they should contact the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office. Hall said anyone needing information on local sex offenders can go to the Scioto County Sheriff’s website and click on “sex offenders.” He said statewide information is available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.