- October 31, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Story courtesy of the FCSO's Brittany Kershaw
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to locate Andre Watkins, 39, on Sept. 13, for a sexual offender address verification. Watkins, who recently bonded out of jail on a charge unrelated to his sexual offender status, claimed that he would be residing in the
woods behind the Walmart in Palm Coast until he could establish a permanent residence.
Deputies were unable to locate Watkins behind Walmart, so they checked Watkins’ mother’s house at Ponderosa Lane in Palm Coast. There, deputies made contact with Watkins’ mother who advised that she had not seen her son recently and that he was not residing at her house.
Later that same day, Watkins contacted the FCSO and advised that he was staying at an address in the Seminole Woods area of Palm Coast and that he would update his address officially on Monday, Sept. 16. When Deputies arrived at the address provided by Watkins, the resident advised that Watkins was not residing there and that he was living at Ponderosa Lane with his mother.
On Sunday, Sept. 15, deputies went back to Ponderosa Lane. When they knocked on the door, Watkins answered. Watkins explained that he was lying about his current living situation because his mother runs a “daycare” out of her residence and he didn’t want her business to suffer.
Detectives with the Major Case Unit located and arrested Watkins on Monday, Sept. 16, for failure to properly register as a sex offender. Watkins is being held without bond. The Florida Department of Children and Families has been notified of the case and to determine if the daycare operating out of that address is legally licensed.
“Sex offender rules are not optional,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “If you are designated a sex offender in Flagler County, know that our deputies will follow up with you to ensure that you comply with the regulations. Lying to us about your address is highly discouraged because we will find you and you will go back to jail.”
Watkins was recently arrested for stalking and was out on bond at the time of this arrest. He has an active protection order against him.
