Georgia Operation Nets 35 Arrests, 180 Warrants
Statewide sex offender compliance sweep found 521 registrants who absconded from their last known addresses.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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Georgia Sheriffs' Association reported that Operation Watchful Eye XI, run by 66 sheriffs' offices from October 26 to November 2, produced 35 arrests and 180 warrants. Preliminary reports show 521 registered sex offenders absconded from their last known addresses.
Why it matters
The annual statewide effort verifies registered sex offenders' addresses and checks compliance with state registration requirements, and the number of absconded registrants highlights gaps in tracking those required to report their whereabouts. Sheriffs' offices plan to work with other agencies to locate the offenders.
Operation Watchful Eye XI yielded 180 warrants and 35 arrests as of the reporting period. Preliminary figures list 521 registered sex offenders as absconded, and their current locations remain unconfirmed.
The players
Georgia Sheriffs' Association
The association representing the state's county sheriffs, which reported the results of the statewide operation.
The details
Deputies conducted 8,451 residence verifications during the operation to check whether registered sex offenders were complying with state requirements. Sheriffs' offices will coordinate with other agencies to locate offenders who could not be verified at their last known addresses.
Timeline
Operation Watchful Eye XI ran from October 26 to November 2, 2026.
The annual statewide operation began in 2015.
Legal Context
Operation Watchful Eye XI is the eleventh iteration of the annual statewide effort that began in 2015 to verify addresses of registered sex offenders. The continuing series tests whether state registration requirements are being met year to year.
Residents in Georgia can check whether registered offenders in their area have been verified through the state's public registry. Local sheriffs' offices are continuing efforts to locate offenders who have absconded from their registered addresses.
The takeaway
Verifying registrant addresses in person reveals compliance gaps that routine record checks can miss. Residents concerned about nearby registrants can consult their county sheriff's office for current registration information.
What happens next
Sheriffs' offices will work with other agencies to locate the 521 absconded registered sex offenders, though no specific dates were given.
Further reading
For more on related cases, browse Sex Crimes coverage across Georgia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wctv.
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