144 registered convicted sex offenders living in Hall County

GAINESVILLE - There are 144 registered convicted sex offenders living in Hall County, with the greatest concentration in the 30501 Zip Code, according to an accessnorthga.com/WDUN NEWS TALK 550 analysis of data posted on the GBI Web site.

There are actually 155 names on the agency's Web site, but eleven of them are listed as "absconded," meaning, according to the site, they have "failed to register with the appropriate sheriff's office either (a) initially within ten days after release from prison, placement on parole, supervised release or probation; or (b) on their registration anniversary date."

The GBI lists 44 names and addresses of registered sex offenders in 30501, which includes the area in and around Gainesville. The second-highest concentration is 33 in Zip Code 30507, the East Hall area; and, third is 30506, the North Hall area. Next is 30504 and 30542, each with 13.

That means that of the 155 people listed, 130 are in five Zip Codes.

Other Hall County Zip Codes in which registered sex offenders reside and the number living there are: 30566, six; 30564, four; 30518, four; 30554, three; 30543, two; 30519, two; 30527, two; 30548, one; and, 30502, one.

The list of convicted Georgia sex offenders includes details about their crimes, the date of their conviction and other information, and, in most cases, a picture.

The GBI Web site has become about six times more popular since a Florida girl went missing in February and was found dead last month.

GBI spokeswoman Vicki Metz says the site had almost 2.5 million hits last month, and on March 29, the site saw an unprecedented 400 thousand visitors. Metz says the site normally gets that in one month.

Metz says the site's newfound popularity likely coincides with increased publicity about sex-offender registries and the abduction of nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford, who was found dead near her Florida home last month.

James Couey -- a registered sex offender from Florida -- was arrested in Augusta in connection with the abduction and killing. He was indicted Friday.

The GBI sex offender registry began in 1998 and includes the names, addresses and sometimes photos of about 9,600 offenders.

Sunday, April 10, on WDUN NEWS TALK 550'S Northeast Georgia This Week will take a detailed look at sex offenders in Georgia.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.