Local sex offender caught in Colorado

Dec. 26--A Cherokee County sex offender was recently apprehended by law enforcement for an outstanding warrant after she failed to register and fled the state.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Investigator James Brown said a woman from Colorado Springs, Colo., contacted local authorities to report that Denise Sue Watie, 44, was living in the city.

"She contacted dispatch here, who notified us and we notified the Marshals," Brown said.

The U.S. Marshals sex offender investigations coordinator was notified and Watie was apprehended Dec. 19.

The SOIC works closely with local, state, tribal and territorial authorities in the location and apprehension of non-compliant sex offenders.

Brown said the last time Watie registered as a sex offender was in May 2016.

In 2005, Watie was convicted by a jury in Tulsa County for sexually abusing a minor child.

According to authorities, the suspect admitted to residing unregistered in Colorado for nearly six months.

Brown said the state of Colorado is proceeding with charges against Watie for failure to register, then federal charges will be brought against her for crossing state lines.

"When those two cases are done, she'll be brought to Oklahoma, where charges for failure to register will be filed," Brown said. "This was a group effort."

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