4 Hudson Valley Men Accused Of Violating Sex Offender Registration Act

LIBERTY, NY — Four Sullivan County men are facing felony charges after being accused of violating the requirements of the state Sex Offender Registration Act.

The Village of Liberty Police Department said, between Aug. 12 and Sept. 7, detectives and officers conducted a sex offender registration verification detail in which every registered sex offender living in the village of Liberty was visited, according to a news release.

Law enforcement's task was to verify information required under the New York State Sex Offender Registration Act, such as address and internet identifiers.

Results of the details netted the arrest of four registered sex offenders.

On Aug. 12, Christopher Caywood, 34, of Liberty, was charged with failing to register and verify an internet service provider, a felony, according to authorities. He was additionally arrested on an active warrant from the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Caywood was taken to the Sullivan County Jail pending further parole proceedings and was issued an appearance ticket for a future court date in the Town of Liberty Court, police said.

Gary Dotten, 27, of Liberty, was charged Aug. 31 with failing to register and verify his physical address every 90 days a required by a level three sex offender, a felony. He was taken into custody without incident and issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Liberty Court at a later date, police said.

On Aug. 31, Edward Odell, 41, of Liberty, was charged with four counts of failing to register and verify various internet accounts, internet access providers and internet identifiers, all felonies, authorities said. He was additionally charged with tampering with physical evidence, a felony, after he tried to conceal a smartphone from officers that they said was used to access various internet accounts.

In accordance with state bail reform laws, Odell was released on an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Liberty Court at a later date.

Matthew Sanders, 34, of Liberty, was arrested Sept. 7 on an active bench warrant out of the Town of Liberty Court for failing to appear in court, police said. He had previously been arrested by Liberty village police and charged with failing to register and verify as a sex offender, a felony.

Sanders failed to appear at a scheduled court date on Aug. 24, police said, and the Town of Liberty Court issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

He was taken into custody without incident and brought before the Town of Liberty Court. Sanders was then sent to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $500 bail, $1,000 bond or $2,500 secured bond.