UPDATE: The Florida Department of Corrections released the following statement concerning Reigh's release:
It is standard practice for Department staff to give released inmates transportation to a departure destination. After this, it’s the responsibility of the offender to report to the correct probation office per the terms of his supervision.
This offender’s prison sentence has expired, and he is no longer under state supervision. As such the Department has no further jurisdiction over this individual. Sex offender registration is enforced by the local county sheriff’s office after the offender’s release.
St. Lucie County deputies are keeping an eye out for a 65-year-old man they say is a "sexually violent predator."
Officials say Ernest Eugene Reigh was released from the Florida Department of Corrections after serving a 15-year term for sale and possession of an unregistered machine gun.
Reigh was dropped off at the Pilot Bus Station at 7150 Okeechobee Rd. in Port St. Lucie and failed to report to the Federal Probation Office and the St. Lucie County Jail to register his transient address of S. US Highway 1, in Fort Pierce (Federal P&P Bldg.).
Reigh is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing between 153 and 165 pounds, bald with blue eyes.
His current whereabouts are unknown at this time but the sheriff's office does not think he is in the area.
A detective said the last place they tracked him was North Carolina on March 4th.
"I think probably by now he might be farther north than that because I do believe he's going back to Pennsylvania," said Sgt Sue Woodward with St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Scott DeMichael at 772-462-3684 or Detective Deb Pate at 772-462-3682.
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