Convicted Sex Offender Arrested On Suspicion Of Failing Register

SAN MATEO, CA — A transient man was arrested Monday on suspicion of failing to register as a sex offender, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said.

Gene Russel Mariano, 58, was convicted of a sex offense in 1995 and has been registering as a sex offender since 1999, authorities said.

Mariano is currently required to register on a monthly basis based on his “transient” status, because he claimed no permanent residence.

He transferred his residency from Sacramento into San Mateo County jurisdiction on Oct. 3 of last year and has registered as a “transient” during his duration within this county.

By registering as a “transient” the Megan’s Law website could provide information on the offender but not their residence within a neighborhood.

Detectives working with San Mateo police learned Gene Mariano had been falsifying his sex offender documents by not providing his actual permanent residence, the SMCSO said.

Detectives learned that Mariano had been living in a San Mateo home for over a year while registering with the Sheriff’s Office as a transient.

Detectives contacted Mariano at his residence in San Mateo and arrested him on suspicion of failing to register when entering a jurisdiction and being a transient and failing to register.

Anyone with information about Mariano or any other sex offenders failing to comply with their registration requirements is asked to contact Detective D. Chiu at 650-363-4057 or email dbchiu@smcgov.org.