“Operation Sentinel” Targets Sex Offenders and Felons in Josephine County

Josephine County, Oregon– From March 6 to March 10, 2025, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office conducted Operation Sentinel, a coordinated effort targeting sex offender compliance and outstanding warrants. The operation involved multiple agencies and aimed to increase public safety by ensuring compliance with sex offender registration laws and apprehending individuals with outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants.

Undersheriff Travis Snyder reported that Operation Sentinel was conducted with the support of the United States Marshals Service – Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force (USMS – PNVOTF), Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registration Section, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (R.A.D.E.), Josephine County Parole and Probation, the Grants Pass Police Department (GPPD), Oregon State Police Grants Pass Command, Oregon State Police Central Point Command, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office.

The operation focused on verifying the addresses of registered sex offenders and pursuing individuals with outstanding warrants. Compliance checks involved door-to-door visits to confirm the accuracy of reported addresses. This process aimed to reduce recidivism and improve the reliability of the offender registry.

Results of Operation Sentinel:

• 624 compliance checks conducted

• 45 sex offender registrations processed following contact

• 87 enforcement actions taken against offenders

• 19 felony warrant arrests

• 3 probationary detainers

• 5 misdemeanor warrant arrests

• 1 probable cause arrest for a stolen firearm

• Seizure of 5.8 grams of methamphetamine and 4.3 grams of fentanyl

Notable Arrests:

Among the arrests was Gary Carden, who has an extensive criminal history and was wanted in Florida on weapons-related charges. He was located and arrested without incident by the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force with support from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police Grants Pass Command.

Another significant arrest involved an offender who had failed to register as a sex offender after moving from out of state. The individual had lived in Josephine County for over six months without complying with registration requirements. Following a month-long investigation, the offender was located and arrested with the assistance of Las Vegas Metro Police, Oregon State Police Grants Pass Command, and the Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registration Section.

The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office stated that Operation Sentinel reflects its commitment to ensuring that all offenders in the county comply with legal requirements and that those with outstanding warrants are held accountable. The office emphasized that such operations are part of an ongoing effort to enhance community safety.