NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 12, 2007
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
ABSCONDED
SEXUAL PREDATOR ARRESTED IN VALPARAISO
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
Sexual Offender Unit has arrested a sexual predator who had failed to keep
authorities informed on his whereabouts. 33-year old Chad Christopher Richard
called to turn himself in Friday morning after learning a warrant was pending.
Okaloosa Sheriff’s Investigators went to 431 Edge Avenue in Valparaiso to pick
him up around 8 a.m.
Richard is charged with failure to register as a sexual offender, a third
degree felony.
He was convicted of sexual battery with a weapon or force in Brevard
County Florida on June 26, 1997. Between July 2002 and June 2007, Richard signed
no less than seventeen FDLE sexual predator/offender registration forms stating
he understands his requirements as outlined on the forms. One of those
requirements is that sexual offenders/predators are required to report to the
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 48 hours of
establishing a new residence.
While doing an address verification for Richard in September 2007,
Okaloosa deputies learned Richard was no longer at the address he’d listed on
Anderson Drive in Fort Walton Beach.
They tracked him to the home on Edge Avenue Friday and took him into
custody.
Richard was transported to the Okaloosa County Jail in Crestview.