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On Friday, July 6, 2007, a member of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office Operation C-SORT (Sex Offender Registration and Tracking Unit) developed information that an unregistered sex offender was hiding from law enforcement in Henry County.

The wanted person was identified as William Layton Shifflett Jr., age 27 of 411 Rothwood Road, Monroe, VA 24574. Shifflett was wanted for parole violation and failure to register as a convicted sex offender. This subject was considered "armed and dangerous" and had made threats against law enforcement.

After receiving information regarding Shifflett, the Bedford County Sheriff's Office C-SORT Unit contacted the U.S. Marshal's Service Office for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke for assistance with the investigation. An investigative team was immediately formed with representatives from the U.S. Marshal's Service, Virginia State Police, and the Bedford County Sheriff's Office.

These officers worked throughout the weekend attempting to locate the fugitive. Shifflett was arrested without incident Monday morning at approximately 10:40 am in Fieldale, Virginia. The Henry County Sheriff's Office assisted with the arrest.

According to Sheriff Mike Brown, "this investigation and arrest of a dangerous fugitive and unregistered sex offender further demonstrates the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to track and arrest unregistered sex offenders before they have the opportunity to sexually assault another victim." "The Bedford County Sheriff's Office remains committed to working with local state and federal law enforcement agencies to protect our citizens from sexual predators."