Petaluma Man Accused Of Failing To Register As Sex Offender

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man was arrested this week for failing to register as a sex offender, police said.

Officers made contact with Oden Engelhardt around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Steamer Landing while they were doing a walk-through of the encampments along the Petaluma River, police Lt. Nick McGowan said.

Engelhardt, 25, was arrested for failing to comply with the California Sex Offender Registration Act requirements per California Penal Code Section 290, McGowan said.

"This is Engelhardt’s 3rd arrest for failing to register in Sonoma County since 2019," McGowan said.

According to police, Englehardt is one of 70 convicted sex offenders currently living in the Petaluma Police Department's jurisdiction.

It is the duty of the Petaluma Police Department’s Investigations Unit to monitor and manage and persons within the jurisdiction of the city of Petaluma who are required to register per the California Sex Offender Registration Act within the jurisdiction of the City of Petaluma, police said.

Detectives with Petaluma PD monitor sexual offenders actively and conduct compliance checks to verify they are abiding by all the terms and conditions of the California Sex Offender Registration Act.

"Our highest priority is to continue to enforce the terms and conditions of the Act to ensure the safety of our community to the best of our ability," McGowan said.

Every person required to register as a sexual offender has the terms and conditions explained to them, and must obey each time they register, police said. They are required to read and initial all conditions of their registration requirements.

Convicted sex offenders are also informed of the terms and conditions of California Penal Code Section 290, which lists every situation they must notify and update their sexual registration or be subject to arrest. Some of those conditions are: they must register within five working days prior or after their birthday; they must register within five working days upon coming into, or when changing their address within the city; if they are residing at a residence and become transient, they have five working days to register within the jurisdiction they are psychically present as a transient; If they are transient, they must register in person no less than once every 30 days; If they move out of the city or state, they must inform the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the place where they were physically present as a transient or resident within 5 working day before or after leaving; If they move outside California they are required by federal law to register in the new state within three working days; they must submit DNA samples, as well as fingerprints and full palm prints.

"These are terms they agree to before they accept plea deals or are convicted of the crimes they were charged," McGowan said. "These conditions are not meant to be arbitrary or harassing. They are to safeguard the community and assist law enforcement with monitoring persons convicted of certain crimes."

Additional information about registered sex offenders in Petaluma can be found on Meganslaw.ca.gov, a website solely to protect the public, police said. Anyone who uses the information to commit a crime or harass an offender or their family is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability, according to police.