Notification of sex offender release in Wadena County

The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office and the Sebeka Police Dept. released a community notification for a Level 3 Predatory Offender who moved to the City of Sebeka.

Timothy George Bungert, 34, was released Nov. 18 after serving his sentence. He has a history of contacting adolescent females (ages 12-14) on the Internet and engaging in sexual conversation. He has also attempted to arrange to meet for sexual contact with one victim. He was not known to victims.

Law enforcement is releasing this information pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 244.052. This statute authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sexual or predatory offender’s release from prison or a secure treatment facility when law enforcement believes that the release of information will enhance public safety and protection. 

All Level Three Sex Offenders are considered public information and are posted on the Minnesota Department of Corrections website listing the names, addresses and the number of offenders within each county in Minnesota. 

The Sebeka Police Dept. and the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office will have copies of the public information sheet for Level 3  Predatory Offenders residing in the Wadena County area.

The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of criminal sexual conduct or another offense that requires registration with law enforcement pursuant to Minnesota Statues 243.166 or 243.167.

Convicted sexual and predatory offenders have always been released to live in our communities. It was not until the passage of the Registration Act that law enforcement had an ability to track movement of these offenders after their initial release. With the passage of the Community Notification Act law enforcement may now share information about many of these offenders with the public. 

Abuse of this information to threaten, harass or intimidate a registered offender is unacceptable and such acts could be charged as a crime. Such abuses could potentially end the ability of law enforcement to provide these notifications. 

If community notification ends, the only person who wins is the offender. Many of these offenders derive their power from the opportunity that secrecy provides.

Law enforcement may not direct where the offender does or does not reside, nor can this agency direct where he/she works or goes to school. The risk level of this offender has been determined largely on his/her potential to re-offend based on his/her previous behavior.

Wadena County currently has 66 registered predatory offenders. These offenders are required to maintain their registration with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and their residency and personal data also remains on file with local law enforcement agencies for monitoring purposes. 

Sheriff Michael Carr has maintained a stringent program of monitoring all registered sex offenders in Wadena County and checks to determine their current residency status. 

Wadena County Attorney Kyra Ladd has also been aggressive in prosecution of sex offenders failing to register change of address or living status with the Minnesota Bureau of Apprehension as required by law.

This offender is not wanted by the police at this time and has served the sentence imposed on him/her by the court. This notification is not intended to increase fear in the community. Law enforcement believes that an informed public is a safer public.

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