Law enforcement is taking stricter measures to tackle repeat offenders

ALLEN COUNTY, Ky.- Jacob Youngblood was arrested Wednesday in Butler County on two active probation violation warrants for failure to comply with the sex offender registry.

In a citation obtained by News 40, it states Youngblood went to Indiana for two weeks, which falls under failure to notify authorities of traveling and moving to a new state. 

Law enforcement officers learned he also had 4 prior charges of failing to comply with the sex offender registry, three in Allen County and one in Simpson County. 

“He’s had multiple arrests made for noncompliance, and as law enforcement, all we can do is continue to file those charges to the court in hopes that the court and probation will follow through on sentencing,” said Detective Wayde Knox with the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.

Violations of the sex offender registry list include failure to update information, failure to update photo, moving near any form of educational buildings where minors learn or play like playgrounds, violating social media restrictions, and more.

According to the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, nearly half of Kentucky female survivors were assaulted before age 18.

Detective Knox said any form of child abuse or abuse in general is not acceptable.

“Our new attitude here in Allen County is zero tolerance. We’re not going to put up with it. We’re going to investigate, we’re going to keep up with these offenders, making sure they’re being compliant. If they’re not compliant, we have no problems being proactive in making arrests and making sure that they’re compliant with their registry,” Detective Knox said. 

He said protecting all citizens from those who choose to commit crime is what creates a safer county and that those afraid to speak out will always have a safe space. 

“Victims, they’re victims in millions of different ways. They’re not just the physical abuse that they’ve encountered but the emotional and psychological abuse that they take during these incidents. It really impacts them. My thing to them would be that we are here for them. They do have a voice, and we want to hear it. We want to be the ones that stand beside them and assist them in any way possible,” said Detective Knox.

To view any sex offender registered near you, you can visit the Kentucky State Police sex offender registry.