Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick…

Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O’Meara, who is the Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, announces the arrest of William Smith, age 44, of Cazenovia. Smith, who is a Level 2 registered sex offender, was arrested on May 8, 2024, by the Oneida County CAC, for failing to meet his obligations as a registered sex offender under the Sex Offender Registry Act (SORA).

Under SORA, registered sex offenders are required to notify the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services(DCJS) of any change of address, no later than ten calendar days after said change of address. Level 2 registered sex offenders are also required to provide an updated photograph to DCJS every three years. In April of 2024, OCSO Sergeant Melissa Bolton, who is assigned at the CAC, commenced an investigation into Smith when it was learned that he was no longer residing at his registered address in Sylvan Beach, Oneida County.

Through investigation, it was found that on or around January 1, 2024, Smith had moved from his registered address in Sylvan Beach and eventually into a residence in the Village of Cazenovia, without notifying DCJS of this change of address, as required. On May 8, 2024, Smith was located in the Village of Cazenovia by Sergeant Bolton and New York State Police Investigator Andrew Wilmot and taken into custody.

Smith was charged with Failure to Register Change of Address-Prior Offense, a Class D Felony, and Failure to Provide Photo-First Offense, a Class E Felony, both of which are under the NYS Corrections Law.

Smith was transported to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for processing and subsequently to the Oneida County Correctional Facility, where he was held pending arraignment at Centralized Arraignment Court.