Canton Residents Arrested in Sex Offender Verification Operation

Editor's note: One person's name has been removed from this article, as the charges against them were expunged.

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Members of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Department of Community Supervision spent Tuesday and Wednesday verifying the address of more than 200 sex offenders living in Cherokee County.

Out of the 207 offenders residing within the county’s borders, officers were able to personally verify the residences of 128 sex offenders.

The remaining 77 sex offenders will be verified in coming weeks, the sheriff’s office said.

About 30 officers assisted each night with the verification process, and conducted searches of 86 homes where sex offenders listed as their residence.

Numerous electronic devices were also seized for later inspection, which the sheriff’s office said could lead to additional charges and arrests.

Over the two days, the following sex offenders were arrested:

• James Leonard Meehan, 22 years old of Woodstock, was arrested for probation violation and remains in custody without bond.
• Dustin Grady Mathews, 28 years old of Waleska, was arrested for probation violation and remains in custody without bond.
• Derek Joseph Long, 31 years old of Woodstock, was arrested for probation violation and remains in custody without bond.
• [Name removed] of Canton, was arrested for probation violation and remains in custody without bond.
• Donald Ray Barnhill, 40 years old of Canton, was arrested for probation violation, violation of the Sex Offender Registry and remains in custody without bond.
• James Christopher Stamey, 38 years old of Canton, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana less than 1 ounce, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, obstruction of an officer and possession of a drug related object. He remains in custody with a $46,600 bond.

A non-sex offender, Tracey Frederick, 27, of Woodstock, was also arrested during the operation. Frederick was charged with DUI and operating a vehicle with a suspended license. He remains in custody with a $3,361 bond.

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Photo 1: Derek Joseph Long
Photo 2: removed
Photo 3: James Christopher Stamey
Photo 4: Tracey Frederick
Photo 5: Donald Ray Barnhill
Photo 6: James Leonard Meehan
Photo 7: Dustin Grady Mathews
Photo credits: Cherokee Sheriff’s Office