Sex offender registry violations lead to arrests

Dana Igou

Clay County Deputies have filed a series of charges in recent weeks regarding violations to Iowa's Sex Offender Registry law.

Deputies charged 24-year-old Dana Igou of Spencer with failure to comply as a sex offender, which is a Class D felony. He was held in jail to appear before a magistrate on a $5,000 bond.

Authorities took him into custody at 9:17 a.m. Thursday at 102 East Third Street, Apartment 3. His registered address was 1208 McNaughton Way, Apartment 50, in Spencer.

An individual required by law to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry must report any change of address or telephone number within five days of the change for the entire registration period, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

When moving within the same county, the registrant's current county sheriff must be notified. When moving to a different county within the state of Iowa, the registrant must report a change of residence to both the sheriff of the county in which the residence has been established and to the sheriff of the county in which they were registered.

Reporting a change of residence, name, or telephone number is also required when an individual moves out of the state of Iowa.

Timothy Allen Morris Jr. [Click to enlarge]

Igou was on the registry for a November 2000 second-degree sexual misconduct charge from outside the state. The victim was a female over the age of 18.

He is 5-foot-10 and weighs 165 pounds. He has blonde hair, blue eyes and various tattoos on his arms, hands, back and chest.

Clay County Deputies also asked Buena Vista County officials to detain 18-year-old Timothy Allen Morris Jr. of Sioux Rapids on Oct. 2. He was picked up at 404 Fourth Street in Sioux Rapids for failing to comply with guidelines of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry.

He was turned over to the Clay County Sheriff's Office and was transported to the jail without incident.

Morris was on the registry for a July 2004 sexual exploitation of a minor conviction outside of Iowa. The victim was a male under the age of 13. He is 5-foot-6 and weighs 188 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Also on Oct. 2, Clay County Deputies asked O'Brien County authorities to detain 19-year-old Kevin Leigh Thomas Jr. of Sheldon. He was transported to Clay County on a warrant for failure to register as a sex offender. He was held to appear before a magistrate.

He was convicted in April 2007 on Clay County charges of indecent exposure and assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse involving a female age 14-17. He is 6-feet-tall, weighs 150 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes. He has a scars on his abdomen and left knee. He lives at 405 Pine Street, apartment 42, in Sheldon.

Kevin Leigh Thomas Jr.

There are 14 current Clay County residents on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry as of Nov. 1. Twelve live in and around Spencer. One lives in rural Hartley and one lives in rural Sioux Rapids. The number remain the same as an Oct. 1 update from the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

The Iowa Sex Offender Registry is intended to serve as a deterrent and to protect Iowans. Residents should contact local law enforcement officials immediately if a crime has been or may be committed. Anyone who takes actions against a registrant, including vandalism of property, verbal or written threats or physical harm can result in an arrest.