For Immediate Release

Western District of Arkansas

Dewaine Allen, NWA Task Force Commander

479-466-4992

USMS Headquarters Public Affairs

(202) 307-9065

Fayetteville, Arkansas - The U.S. Marshals and Benton County Sheriff’s Office, a member of the Northwest Arkansas Sex Offender and Violent Crime Task Force, announce the arrest of Jeremy Daniel Stewart, age 25. Stewart was arrested on April 2, 2009, in Bentonville, Arkansas just hours after the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received a credible tip from Texas regarding Stewart’s whereabouts. Following a vehicle pursuit in Bentonville, where Stewart was living as an unregistered sex offender, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and members of the NWA Fugitive Task Force arrested Jeremy Daniel for a Washington State felony warrant, among other local charges.

Stewart, a convicted sex offender in Oregon, absconded from Washington State over two years ago. He failed to comply with his registration requirements set forth from his original conviction in Oregon. Investigators believe Stewart arrived in Arkansas at some point in mid-March and was living with family in the area while he awaited the arrival of his girlfriend and children.

At approximately 10 am on April 2, 2009, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received a credible tip from Texas indicating Stewart, a convicted sex offender, may be in the Bentonville area. By 2 pm of the same day, Stewart was in custody after he attempted to flee law enforcement.

On April 2, 2009, Task Force members arrived at the residence thought to be that of Jeremy Stewart. Just as Task Force Officers were arriving, they saw an individual who they identified as Stewart leaving the residence in a vehicle. As Task Force officers approached the vehicle and identified themselves, Stewart sped away. Officers pursued Stewart briefly, and after the vehicle was stopped, Stewart then fled on foot. Stewart was captured shortly thereafter. Following the pursuit, investigators determined Stewart’s girlfriend and two children were in the vehicle during the pursuit. Stewart was charged locally with failing to register as a convicted sex offender, felony fleeing, fleeing by vehicle, and endangering the welfare of a minor. Stewart is being held in the Benton County Detention facility, where he awaits the disposition of his charges, and possible extradition back to Washington State.

According to Deputy U. S. Marshal Dewaine Allen, “[t]he NWA Sex Offender & Violent Crime Task Force continues to make unregistered sex offenders in the community a primary enforcement target.”
The Northwest Arkansas Sex Offender and Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of the U.S. Marshals Service, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, Benton, Washington, Madison, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Siloam Springs, and the Bentonville Police Departments. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office continues to manage the Federal grant that funds the Task Force.

Every year, the U.S. Marshals and its associated Task Forces throughout the country arrest more fugitives than all federal law enforcement agencies combined. Last year, this number was more than 73,000 state and local fugitives and more than 36,000 federal fugitives.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.