On Thursday, a man with a history as a registered sex offender was apprehended in Ventura after neglecting to inform the authorities of his whereabouts, as required by California law. Marc Shearer, 58, found himself in the custody of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office following a failed compliance check.
An initial check by the Sexual Assault Unit in July came up empty when Shearer could not be located in the Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village areas. The investigation that ensued, which included a second effort to verify Shearer's location, eventually led detectives to the 4200 block of North Ventura Avenue, according to KTLA. Detectives believe that he has been residing there for several months.
California Penal Code 290 mandates that registered sex offenders must keep local law enforcement apprised of any changes in residence on an annual basis, and transient offenders must register every 30 days. A media release by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Shearer fell short of these legal requirements, leading to his arrest without incident on the morning of August 22nd.
After his arrest, Shearer was booked on a charge of failing to update/provide a change of address with his bail set at $20,000. The community's awareness of sex offenders in the area is facilitated through the Megan’s Law website, where individuals can search for offenders by name, address, and other criteria. Information on this case, and the broader stipulations of California Penal Code 290, can be found on Megan’s Law official website, as well as through the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
The Ventura County Crime Stoppers are offering up to a $1,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest and criminal complaint against individuals responsible for such crimes. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and calls are unrecorded, through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
