MN- Sex offender returned to Calif.

Just a note, apparently there are places where they haven't heard about the Adam Walsh Act.

8-11-2009 Minnesota:

The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office has transported a California sex offender to the West Coast rather than registering him locally.

Michael Clouse, 38, was arrested July 21 following a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 59 north of Erhard, according to the sheriff’s office. Clouse, who was convicted of assaulting a 15-year-old in 2002, was wanted on two felony warrants out of Sacramento County, California.

Clouse, who is homeless, was transported back to California by plane Tuesday after Sacramento authorities refused to come get him. According to Sheriff Brian Schlueter, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office had deemed it was not economical to bring Clouse back to California. Had Clouse stayed in Otter Tail County, he would have had to register as a sex offender with the county, and local officials would have carried the responsibility of apprehending him on future warrants.

“For the next 20 years we could potentially be picking this guy up on warrants from all over the U.S.,” Schlueter said.

Schlueter estimated the cost of transporting Clouse at $1,200. A sheriff’s deputy escorted him and California authorities were scheduled to meet the pair on their arrival.

Schlueter said Tuesday he believed extraditing Clouse benefited both public safety and his department’s long-term budget.

“The upfront money is going to be offset by long-term savings,” he said. ..Source.. by Lauren Radomski