The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has arrested 19 people in a sweep that included some of Colorado’s most-wanted sex offenders.
The CBI and officers from 11 agencies saturated the metro area Tuesday and Wednesday, targeting sex offenders who failed to register as required.
Accused sex offenders who had not shown up in court to face charges were also arrested.
“Our teams arrested almost twice as many offenders this year as last year, when the first roundup was conducted,” CBI division director Steve Johnson said.
During the sweep, officers learned that 30 offenders have left the state and one is dead. Colorado has more than 400 offenders who are unregistered.
During the operation, agents arrested Darren Benard, 44; Marquese Edwards, 27; Alvin Bachman, 66; Benjamin Salazar, 25; Tracy Christensen, 44; Ramon Garcia, 54; and Jose Rodriguez, 30, in Denver.
Raymond Lash, 41, and Daniel Woldemichael, 31, were arrested in Aurora.
Luis Hernandez-Ortega, 22, and Benjamin Theisen, 24, were arrested in Lakewood.
Raymond Cavanaugh, 25, was arrested in Arvada; Daniel Garcia, 43, in Littleton; Joel Welch, 19, in Thornton; Jerry Deitchman, 43, in Commerce City; Ronald Ransom, 41, in Pueblo; Richard Ocana, 46, in Englewood; Jesus Gonzales-Flores, 39, in Northglenn; and Sean Jennings, 18, in Jefferson County.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-820-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.
