Fountain County Sex Offender Registry

The Fountain County Sheriff's Office in Covington maintains sex offender registration records for all of Fountain County, Indiana. Registry data is publicly available and free to search through the statewide iCrimeWatch portal. Results include names, photos, current addresses, and offense details for every registered sex offender in Fountain County.

Fountain County Sex Offender Search

To search for sex offenders in Fountain County, use iCrimeWatch Indiana. This is the official statewide portal, used by all 92 Indiana counties. You can search by name, zip code, or street address. An address search shows all registered offenders within one mile of any location you enter. The search is free, no account is required, and the data is updated as the county sheriff submits new registration information.

The Fountain County Sheriff's Office is located at 301 4th St., Covington IN 47932. The office phone number is (765) 793-3545. Sheriff Terry R. Holt leads the department. The sheriff's staff includes Chief Deputy Andrew Krout, Detective/Sergeant Bob Kemp, and Deputy/Jail Commander Josh Paxton. The county sheriff page is at fountaincounty.net. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.

You can also use the National Sex Offender Public Website to search all 50 states at once. This is useful if someone may have recently moved to Fountain County from Illinois, which shares a border with western Indiana.

Note: Sign up for free email alerts through the Indiana Sheriffs' Association registry portal to be notified when an offender moves near your address.

Fountain County Sheriff Registration Process

The Fountain County Sheriff's Office handles all sex offender registrations for the county. Anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Fountain County and is required to register must appear in person at 301 4th St. in Covington. Indiana law requires this initial registration to happen within 72 hours of release from prison, end of probation or parole, or arrival in the county from another state or county.

During registration, offenders must provide their full legal name and any aliases, date of birth, home address, employer name and work address, school information if applicable, vehicle details, and all online accounts such as email addresses and social media usernames. A photo is taken at each registration and verification visit. All information is entered into the statewide system and appears in iCrimeWatch searches within hours of being submitted.

The Fountain County Sheriff coordinates with the Indiana Sheriffs' Association and the Indiana Department of Correction to track offenders who are released from state facilities and list Fountain County as their intended home address.

Fountain County Sex Offender Registry Laws

Indiana's sex offender registry is governed by IC 11-8-8, known as Zachary's Law. This law has been in effect since January 1, 2003, and was named in memory of Zachary Snider of Cloverdale, Indiana, a child who was killed by a registered sex offender. Zachary's Law requires all 92 Indiana county sheriffs to maintain a public registry and contribute data to the statewide system at no cost to the public.

The offenses requiring registration are defined in IC 11-8-8-4.5. These include rape, child molesting, child exploitation, possession of child pornography, criminal deviate conduct, sexual misconduct with a minor, and voyeurism involving minors. Qualifying out-of-state convictions and certain violent offenses also trigger the registration requirement.

The 72-hour registration requirement is codified in IC 11-8-8-7. Failing to register on time is a Level 6 felony. A second offense rises to a Level 5 felony, carrying one to six years in prison. Under IC 36-2-13-5.5, county sheriffs must keep registry information publicly available online.

Registration Periods in Fountain County

Most registered sex offenders in Fountain County are on the registry for 10 years. The period begins when the offender completes their sentence, which includes the end of any probation or parole term. After 10 years without new criminal charges or registration violations, the person may file a petition with the court to be removed from the registry. Courts weigh the offender's full history and current risk before ruling.

Sexually violent predators and people convicted of offenses involving victims under age 12 must register for life with no petition option. SVPs must also verify their registration every 90 days, while all other registrants check in once per year. Each verification requires an in-person visit to the Fountain County Sheriff's Office at 301 4th St. in Covington, where the registrant updates their information and gets a new photo taken.

All changes in home address, employment, vehicle, or online accounts must be reported within 72 hours of the change. Moving out of Fountain County does not end the reporting requirement. Offenders who leave the county must notify the Fountain County Sheriff and register with the sheriff in their new location within the same 72-hour window. Failing to report a change is a separate Level 6 felony offense.

Residency Restrictions in Fountain County

Indiana law bars certain sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, public park, or youth program center. This applies statewide, including Fountain County. People classified as offenders against children face this restriction on top of any conditions imposed by a judge at sentencing. Violating the residency rule is charged as a Level 6 felony, independent of other charges.

Offenders must also not live within one mile of their victim's home address. Before moving anywhere in Fountain County, registered offenders should confirm with the sheriff's office that the address is compliant. The Fountain County Sheriff's Office at (765) 793-3545 can tell you whether a proposed address falls inside a restricted zone. Parole or probation terms may add further geographic constraints beyond what Indiana law requires on its own.

Note: These restrictions apply to owned, rented, and temporarily occupied properties alike.

Nearby Indiana Counties

Search sex offender registries in counties near Fountain County.