Convicted Sex Offender Arrested in Marin During Probation Compliance Check Operation

Marin County, CA – A convicted sex offender was re-arrested Tuesday and two others are being investigated for further potential sex crimes involving minors a result of a countywide probation compliance check on 26 registered sex offenders, authorities said Wednesday.

The Marin County Probation Department conducted the multi-agency operation Tuesday afternoon and evening, according to a news release.

Deputy Probation Officer Heather Donoho of the adult high-risk supervision unit led the operation and was assisted by the San Rafael Police Department, the Novato Police Department and the state of California’s Division of Adult Parole Operations.

Five teams split up across the county to conduct extensive searches of residences and vehicles belonging to sex offenders. Several electronic items were seized and will be examined over the coming days for potential violations related to sexual offenses involving minors, authorities said in the news release.

Offenders who were found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs and in violation of their probation conditions were transported to the Helen Vine Recovery Center in San Rafael.

San Rafael resident Gabriel Gil, 26, was arrested Tuesday in Corte Madera and booked into the Marin County Jail after a search of his residence yielded alleged violations involving pornography and drugs, a county official told Patch.

The two offenders said to be under further investigation as a result of Tuesday's operation are Novato residents, the official said.

"The courts and the community expect that the Probation Department properly supervise those given a grant of probation," said Chief Probation Officer Michael Daly. "Part of that supervision includes unannounced probation searches at their residences to see if the person is adhering to all conditions of probation."

Not everyone who was checked on was found to be out of compliance. The Probation Department gave out six gift cards to offenders found to be in compliance and working hard at changing their lives.

The Probation Department said it remains committed to focusing resources on both community safety and the rehabilitation of those who enter the criminal justice system, saying the compliance checks Tuesday were "just one of our many efforts."

California's Sex Offender Registration Act, also known as Megan's Law, requires anyone convicted of a California sex crime to register with the law enforcement agency of the city or county in which they live. Their registration must be renewed annually and every time that offender moves to a new address. Knowingly and willfully failing to meet the requirement leads to further criminal charges.

(Photo courtesy of County of Marin)