Only on 19: Lake County deputies arrest convicted sex offenders for new violations

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Right now in Ohio, more than 500 convicted sex offenders are missing, not living where they are registered or not following the law.

19 Investigates got an inside look at how investigators keep tabs on sex offenders in Lake County.

We were there as they arrested two previously convicted sex offenders on new charges.

In Lake County, 224 active sex offenders are registered, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

That’s a small number compared to nearby counties.

Two of those offenders are considered “non-compliant.”

Statewide, there are more than 21,600 registered sex offenders and 537 are listed as non-compliant, according to the Ohio Attorney Generals’ Office.

19 Investigates rode along with the SORN Unit at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Probation and Parole and a couple of members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force with the U.S. Marshal’s Service as they served arrest warrants last Friday.

Arrest in Willowick

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Unit, or SORN Unit’s first investigation was out of Willowick.

Matthew Mazzei, 40, was previously convicted for gross sexual imposition involving a child.

“So we had a gentleman who’s a registered sex offender in Medina County come to our office and request to do an address change and move into Lake County,” said. Det. Steven Ross with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Det. Ross and Sgt. Bob Harps with the SORN Unit checked that address on a map.

But it was within 1,000 feet of a school or a daycare.

“It was about 560 feet from the daycare. So the address was denied, and he told me he was going to go right back to Medina County where he’s currently registered,” Det. Ross said.

But investigators said that didn’t happen.

They said street cameras caught Mazzei’s vehicle coming and going in Lake County and security cameras showed he was living in that house in Willowick.

“He might not think it’s that big of a deal, however it really is. And that’s why we’re here,” Det. Ross said.

Early in the morning in that quiet Willowick neighborhood, school buses passed by and adults left for work.

We were there as investigators waited to catch up with Mazzei as he headed out the door.

They watched his driveway and garage on surveillance cameras.

Several unmarked cars were parked down the street from the house.

They sprang into action as his car pulled out of the driveway, catching him at a stop sign down the street.

“You got no weapons or anything on you?” A deputy asked as he got out of the car.

“No,” he said.

Deputies cuffed him and walked him to the back of a patrol car, explaining why he was under arrest.

“But that’s not where I live,” Mazzei said to investigators.

“It is. We’ll talk about it later, you’re going to be going to the jail right now,” Det. Ross said.

Arrest in Painesville Township

The next case took deputies to Painesville Township.

Wesley Bailey Jr., 38, was previously convicted on four sex charges involving a child.

Detectives started investigating him after getting an anonymous tip.

“Our investigation shows that he is communicating with numerous females, close to over 100 females, on fake dating profiles. Tinder, Facebook dating,” Det. Ross said during a briefing at the sheriff’s office.

Investigators said he was using social media profiles under the names “John” or “John Parkhill.”

Those profile pictures show photos of two different men in construction outfits.

Then deputies said Bailey contacted the women on burner phones and met many of them at parks for sexual encounters.

But he didn’t register his internet address and those phone numbers.

Investigators headed to his house in Painesville Township with an arrest warrant.

Detectives found out he was at home and sitting on the front porch.

Several cars pulled up and they arrested him right outside.

But a medical emergency delayed their trip to jail.

They had to call an ambulance, and after Bailey was checked out and okay, they were on their way.

Compliance checks

Next 19 Investigates tagged along as deputies along with Probation and Parole knocked on more doors to make sure sex offenders are living where they’re registered.

“We’re going to be checking the people on probation that are also registered sex offenders with probation and parole. Make sure that the offenders are abiding by both standards, the SORN aspect and the rules of the court,” said Sgt. Bob Harps.

Many of them weren’t at home during a work day, so deputies left letters on their doors asking them to check in.

We asked why rehabilitating sex offenders is an important part of their job too.

“We try to build a rapport with them so they understand we are here to also help them, we don’t want to charge them,” Det. Ross said.

Sgt. Harps and Det. Ross pointed out it takes a lot of time and resources to investigate the kind of crimes that lead to the types of arrests we saw on our ride along.

And for them, the hard work is well worth it.

“If you don’t want to help yourself, and you’re not gonna be compliant and you keep screwing up, then that’s on you. We have to do our job to make sure the public knows that we’re out here making sure the sex offenders are staying compliant,” Det. Ross said.

There are just two deputies in the SORN Unit.

Matthew Mazzei and Wesley Bailey Jr. are now out of jail.

We tried to reach them by phone, but we have not heard back.

Their cases will move to county court next.

You can check sex offenders living in your area here.

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