Cops Catch Up With Fugitive Hudson Valley Sex Offender In Texas

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Sheriff Brian Hess announced the arrest of a former Patterson resident for failing to update his information with law enforcement as a condition of his being designated a level 2 sex offender.

In June of 2024, an investigation was launched into Jamey Puente, a then 55-year-old, for failing to update or confirm his address with the NYS Sex Offender Registry for the previous three years and for failing to appear at the sheriff's office for his photograph, which is required to be updated every three years.

A warrant was issued for Puente's arrest and investigators tracked down leads in an attempt to locate him.

According to the Division of Criminal Justice Services New York State sex offender registry, Puente was convicted in June 2000 of having sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl.

In early October, Puente was arrested by authorities in Houston, Texas on the PCSO warrant and arrangements were made to have him extradited back to New York to face his charges. On Nov. 1, investigators from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office flew back to New York with Puente in custody.

He was arraigned the next day in the Town of Patterson Court for two felonies on charges of failing to appear for a photograph and failing to answer the verification form. The judge ordered Puente be fitted with an ankle monitor by the Putnam County Probation Department and he was released to reappear in court on a future date.