The number of sex offenders living in Mercer County remained unchanged at 14 in the week ending Jan. 19 compared to the week before, according to the Illinois Police Sex Offender Registry.
According to a 2024 study by SafeHome.org, Illinois ranks fifth in the total number of registered sex offenders, with more than 34,000 living in the state.
Nationally, the study found over 795,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S. as of August 2024 — an increase of approximately 8,000 compared to 2023.
Registered Sex Offenders in Mercer County as of Week Ending Jan. 19
| Offender | Title | Status | Crime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven L. Howard | Non-verified Adult Sex Offender | Non-Compliant | Aggravated unlawful restraint, Criminal sexual abuse/force and Felony conviction after 7/1/2011 |
| Eric M. Thirtyacre | Non-verified Child Sex Offender | Compliant | Criminal sexual abuse/victim cant consent |
| Michael Earl Daniels | Non-verified Child Sex Offender | Compliant | Criminal sexual abuse/victim vic 9-16 |
| Gary Virgil Melton | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sex abuse/victim 13-16 |
| Jeffrey Robert Walker | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sex abuse/victim 13-16 |
| Anthony Edward Wayne | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16 |
| Derick Branden Stelzner | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16 |
| Justin D. Jacobs | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim <13 |
| Carey Lloyd Crowder | Sexual Predator | Non-Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim <9 and Fail to rpt change of employment w/in 3 days |
| Kyile Jason Carter | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim <9 |
| Melvin P. Klundt | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim >60 |
| Stanley E. Goard | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Criminal sexual assault |
| Richard John Harper-Layman | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Criminal sexual assault/victim 13-17, Failure to report a change of address/employment, Failure to report annually/2+ and Felony conviction after 7/1/2011 |
| Brandon J. Cirks | Sexual Predator | Compliant | Predatory criminal sexual assault |
