A Pasco, WA high-risk sex offender has found himself in a bit of trouble after cutting the $1,400 GPS tracking device off of his ankle and then refusing to return it to authorities despite their multiple requests. Jerome Lionel Pleasant, 22, went before the Franklin County Superior Court and pleaded his innocence to the charges of second-degree theft. His trial is set for August 29.
Although Pleasant is from Pasco, court records indicate he is a transient. He was classified as a Level 3 sex offender, which labels him as “highly likely to reoffend,” due to a 2006 first-degree child molestation conviction along with a 2011 conviction for failing to register as a sex offender.
In an affidavit written by community corrections officer Charles Dorendorf, with the state Department of Corrections, Pleasant was fitted with a GPS locator ankle bracelet back on April 23, which was placed on his right ankle. He was also given a charger for this GPS device, and Pleasant signed a form pertaining to the care and use of the device. When signing the document, Pleasant told Dorendorf that he “fully understood” his responsibilities and that he was fully aware new charges could be brought against him if the device was lost or damaged, according to the affidavit.
On May 15, Pleasant neglected to charge the GPS device while at the Crazy Moose Casino in Pasco, leading to the device dying. Officials were unable to contact Pleasant from this point forward, which led to a warrant being issued for his arrest on May 18.
Pleasant turned himself in June 5 to the Benton County jail, but officials noted the bracelet was no longer on his ankle, according to court documents. He was released from jail on June 8 and taken to meet with another community corrections officer at the Department of Corrections field office in Pasco.
Court documents state he admitted to cutting the GPS device off of his ankle prior to turning himself in at the jail. At this point, officials told him to return no later than June 12 with the device in hand, or else criminal charges would be recommended to Franklin County prosecutors. He still did not show by the deadline, and a new warrant was issued.
In the affidavit, Dorendorf wrote that the cost of a replacement GPS device would be $1,400 as well as an additional $59 for the wall charger.
On June 19, Pleasant appeared at the Pasco office and was taken into custody. When he was asked what happened to the device, he replied “I don’t know where it’s at. I don’t give a (expletive) about no GPS unit. I should pawn it,” according to court documents.
He is being held on $5,000 bail at the Franklin County Jail, as well as a state corrections hold.
