5 sex offenders missing

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — McKinley County monitors more than 230 sex offenders, about 85 percent of which live on the Navajo Reservation.

Offenders who abscond from the system, be aware investigators Maryann Bullhead and Judith Grijalva are on your trail. The pair routinely meet with convicted sex offenders to ensure they comply with state law and update their information with the McKinley County Sheriff's Department. Bullhead then travels to the offender's listed residence and place of employment to verify their accuracy.

The sheriff's department released the names of five sex offenders who have absconded or failed to report the correct address or place of employment to authorities.

• Leonard Miller Sr. — last known address is in Church Rock, N.M.;
• Brandon Wauneka — has yet to update his registry in McKinley County; reportedly moved to Phoenix, but has not registered with the appropriate agency. His last known address is in the DeArmond Trailer Park in Williams Acres, N.M.;
• Darrick Desiderio, no photo available — his last known address is in Gallup on Wilson Street; needs to update registry.
• Miguel Gia, 46 — incorrect address and place of employment; last known address in Zuni, N.M.
• Nelson Alton Romero, 22 —moved from Colorado to Gallup, but has yet to register in McKinley County.

Bullhead and Grijalva are also joining forces with Navajo Nation authorities and local social service organizations to better track sex offenders.

Bullhead is planning a meeting for Aug. 15 at the UNM-Gallup campus for local representatives to discuss a plan to better inform the community of offenders who have absconded or live within their neighborhoods.

Bullhead is also using a GPS tracking system to note each offender's address, so the department can develop a map to distribute to the public of where offenders live.

According to state law, convicted sex offenders must register with the sheriff's department within 10 days of their release from prison or any other form of custody. Prospective employers must also be notified in writing of an individual's sex-related conviction. A sample of each person's DNA is also obtained and entered into a nationwide database that can connect samples to DNA collected from unsolved crimes.

If convicted sex offenders do not comply with the registration process, they could face a fourth-degree felony offense or the revocation of their probation, if applicable.

Bullhead said the state's DWI and seatbelt enforcement programs are publicized well throughout the community. She hopes the local sex offender registry will be as well known.

"These people do horrific things," Bullhead said. "We need to protect our children."

A complete list of local registered sex offenders is available at the New Mexico Department of Safety Web site. The information is intended for community safety and should not be used to threaten or harass, according to the site.

Information about an absconder:
Call the sheriff's department, (505) 722-7205.