The number of sex offenders living in Edwards County remained unchanged at 10 in the week ending Dec. 8 compared to the week before, according to the Illinois Police Sex Offender Registry.
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.
Registered Sex Offenders in Edwards County as of Week Ending Dec. 8
| Offender | Title | Status | Crime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Dale Lake | Non-verified Child Sex Offender | Compliant | Grooming |
| Leonard Cook | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated child pornography |
| Dereck Wayne Welty | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16 |
| Kevin Roberts | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16 |
| Robert Persiani | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16 |
| Terry L. Mize | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16, Child sex offender present in a school zone and Violate sex offender registration |
| James Wallace Smith | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim <13, Failure to register new residence/school and Violate sex offender registration |
| Richard A. Willette | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual assault/victim <9 and Criminal sexual assault/force |
| Martin Contreras | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Child pornography victim less than 13 |
| Douglas C. Bartlett | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Criminal sexual assault/victim 13-17/2nd |
