Police seeking sex offenders

SANDPOINT — Two sex offenders who failed to notify local authorities of an address change are being sought by police.

Shawnne Paul Smith, 37, of Priest River, was last seen by authorities in May when county deputies performed a random address check, according to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

Frank Matthew Thompson, 47, was last contacted by deputies in March.

Both men violated the conditions of their probation and parole by not telling police they were moving, according to the sheriff’s office.

Smith, a white male with brown hair is 5-7, 175 pounds with hazel eyes. He has a tribal skull tattoo on his upper right thigh and tattoo of what appears to be a US flag peering through three tears in his skin on his right arm.

Smith is wanted on a $100,000 warrant for a probation and parole violation and a $40,000 warrant for failing to register as a sex offender, according to the sheriff’s office.

His last known address was 1310 Fourth Street in Priest River.

Thompson is wanted on a $40,000 probation and parole violation, and a $10,000 warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. He is a white male, 5-11 and 185 lbs., brown hair and brown eyes. His last known address was 455 Triangle Drive in Ponderay.

Investigators last tracked Thompson in March after he left the Ponderay mission, where he lived, without notifying authorities, detective Tony Riffel said.

Registered sex offenders are given two days to contact police of address changes.

Thompson has a history of alcohol-related charges, Riffel said. He was convicted of third-degree sexual assault in Washington County, Ore. in March, 2000.

Because of his history with alcohol abuse, “It is not likely he can stay off the radar too long,” Riffel said.

Smith has absconded before.

“This is the second time he bailed,” Riffel said. “The last time, the marshals found him in California.”

Smith often seeks out Christian families looking for a place to stay, Riffel said.

“He lives with them for a while before moving on somewhere else,” he said.

Smith, who uses Shawnnee Paul Smith as an alias, was convicted on a charge of indecent acts upon a child, in Fort Hood, Texas in March, 2004, according to the Idaho State Police sex offender registry.

Anyone with information regradign the wheareabouts of either men should contact the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 265-5525.