Macon Reporter

There were two new registered sex offenders living in DeWitt County in the week ending Dec. 29 compared to the week before, according to the Illinois Police Sex Offender Registry.

The Registry showed that, in total, 21 sexual offenders were living in DeWitt County, compared to 19 the week before.

Of the two offenders who moved to DeWitt County at the time, one was a sexual predator.

Sexual predators and child murderers remain on the registry for the rest of their lives. Sexually violent people are no longer listed 10 years after their conviction.

The offenders moving into DeWitt County may have been recently convicted or moved from other cities in the US.

According to a 2024 study by SafeHome.org, Illinois ranks fifth in the total number of registered sex offenders, with more than 34,000 living in the state.

Nationally, the study found over 795,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S. as of August 2024 — an increase of approximately 8,000 compared to 2023.

Offender	Title	Status	Crime
Michael Timothy Meier	Non-verified Child Sex Offender	Non-Compliant	Attempt and Sexual exploitation/expose organs
Dustin Dale Clemons	Non-verified Child Sex Offender	Compliant	Child sex offender present in a school zone and Sex relations
Vincent Carl Peters	Non-verified Child Sex Offender	Compliant	Indecent solicitation of a child
Richard Amos Paul Gharrett	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sex abuse/bodily harm and Unlawful restraint
James P. Logue	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sex abuse/victim 13-16 and Predatory criminal sexual assault
Douglas Robert Benz	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sex abuse/victim 13-18
Lawrence R. Ramey	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse
Melonie D. Farnsworth	Sexual Predator	Non-Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse, Fail to register a new residence/school/2nd+ and Violate sex offender registration
Brandon James Rotholtz	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16 and Felony conviction after 7/1/2011
Charles David Lawson	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Mark Gordon Steele	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Matthew Wade Sympson	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16, Child sex offender present in a school zone and Violate sex offender registration
Tanner J. Reynolds	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16, Criminal sexual abuse/vic 13-17, Sexual exploitation/expose organs/2nd and Traveling to meet a minor
Dustin Robert Underwood	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Child pornography victim less than 13
Jeff W. Bristow	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Criminal sexual assault, Fail to report weekly/no fixed address/2nd, Failure to report a change of address/employment and Violate sex offender registration
Jonathon P. Cano	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Criminal sexual assault/force and Predatory criminal sexual assault
Daniel Thomas Crain	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Criminal sexual assault/victim 13-17
Anthony L. Gray	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Fail to report weekly/no fixed address/2nd+, Predatory criminal sexual assault and Violate sex offender registration
Fred Donald Thrasher	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Predatory criminal sexual assault
Joey Wayne Hardwick	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Predatory criminal sexual assault
Kelly J. Williams	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Sexual exploitation/expose organs