Annual sex offender compliance check leads to several arrests

The Amarillo Police Department recently coordinated a compliance check of all registered sex offenders in the city. Detectives from the Special Victim’s Unit (SVU), officers from the Proactive Criminal Enforcement Unit (PACE), and the US Marshalls were involved. 

During a two-week period in August, a total of 697 addresses were checked. A total of 28 reports were generated for various law violations. 

Seventeen individuals were arrested for failure to comply with registration requirements, including 1 with an immigration hold. Officers learned that 7 offenders had absconded before the operation began. 

The current number of registered sex offenders in Amarillo is 682. 

As a part of this operation, on August 18, 2023, the US Marshals located and arrested Thomas Golding in Randall County. He had a warrant out of Twin Falls, Idaho for sexual abuse of a child under 16.

While making the arrest, the Marshals discovered there were minor children in the home. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) took custody of the children. That investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible.