Sheriff: Man Violates Sex Offender Registry By Trying To Enter Washington Co. School

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) – A man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly attending a local elementary school while a registered sex offender, according to a press release from the Washington County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).

George L. Buckles, 43, of Bluff City, was arrested Wednesday after he knowingly entered school grounds where children were present as a registered sex offender. Buckles was convicted in November 2022 of five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to the WCSO, Buckles and his girlfriend showed up as visitors at the Ridgeview School and had their driver’s licenses scanned.

The press release states that Buckles told WCSO he knew he wasn’t supposed to be on the property. Buckles was arrested for violating the sex offender registry.

The press release states that the school’s SRO was notified of the man through the school’s Raptor system.

“The Raptor system scans an individual’s state-issued identification card and compares it to registered sex offender databases for all 50 states and territories. Every visitor entering a school in Washington County must have their ID scanned and checked by Raptor. The system automatically alerts the SRO when Raptor detects someone.”

Washington County Sheriff’s Office

According to the WCSO, Buckles posted the $2,500 bail and appeared in court Thursday.