COEUR d'ALENE - There's now more eyes keeping track of sex offenders in North Idaho.

The North Idaho Sex Offender Task Force was recently formed thanks to a two-year $494,000 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant through the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dave Robins was hired to the task force as a prosecutor, while Paul Farina, formerly with Post Falls Police, was tapped as an investigator to track sex offenders who live in the region and ones who move into the area.

The two work at the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office and collaborate with the five northern counties, area law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service on bringing non-compliant registered sex offenders into compliance under the multi-faceted program.

"Sex offenders need to be kept up to date (with being registered, including disclosure on where they're living)," Robins said, adding that non-compliance can lead to them re-offending.

"Some sex offenders work under the radar and don't like to be noticed."

In its first four months, the task force brought 14 offenders into compliance through enforcement or prosecution.

There's 335 registered sex offenders living in Kootenai County, 88 in Bonner County, 35 in Shoshone County, 30 in Benewah County and 18 in Boundary County.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh, who secured the grant for the task force, said he's not surprised that registered sex offenders, like many others, want to be here.

"It's an attractive place to live and the more rural community generates additional folks of that nature," McHugh said.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, there are 747,408 registered sex offenders in the country and 3,654 in Idaho. The national average per a population of 100,000 is 238. Idaho's average per that population is 233.

There's roughly 100,000 non-compliant sex offenders in the country.

Farina said some sex offenders have moved into the area, but aren't registered.

"These are the ones we're really concerned about and are hardest to track," he said.

The U.S. Marshals Service's involvement with the task force makes it easier to deal with cases that cross state lines.

"This task force is not just benefiting the five northern counties; it really benefits the entire United States," said Alex Claunts, deputy U.S. marshal.

One case that was assigned to the task force was Isaac Joshua Angel, 34, Coeur d'Alene.

According to a police report, Angel last August was found living at a house other than the one he reported to the sex offender registry. He was arrested and had been non-compliant with the registry for about a month. He was required to register as a sex offender due to his 2008 conviction for sexual battery on a minor.

Angel was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with three years fixed and seven indeterminate, for failing to register.

The task force will also take on other sex cases, including child pornography.

"Part of the purpose of this task force is to protect kids," Robins said. "We want to be proactive about searching for predators before they get to children."

McHugh said the task force is also intended to assist other agencies that fall behind on prosecuting cases due to a lack of manpower.

Farina said the task force intends to educate the public and students on Internet safety and social networking. Child porn was first distributed through the mail and websites, but has jumped to hand-held devices as technology advances.

McHugh secured the grant after similar funding was obtained by Canyon County in southern Idaho in 2010.

"Canyon County was a big part in us getting the grant because they suggested we'd be a good applicant," McHugh said.

Offender watch

n Information on registered sex offenders in your area is available on the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department website at www.kcsheriff.com. The public can also register for email alerts.

By DAVID COLE

Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Production was under way throughout the weekend in Coeur d'Alene on the 20-minute film to be called "Without a Ladder."

The picture is being made, in part, as a mentoring project.

The production is providing workforce training opportunities for people interested in working in the film and video industry.

Students of different ages and backgrounds from the Coeur d'Alene-Spokane area observed, asked questions and tried their hand at different aspects of the process, including directing, producing, wardrobe, construction, production design and camera operation.

"They learn every part about it," said W.J. Lazerus of Hayden Lake, the movie's director. "If they want to learn a little about camera today, tomorrow they can learn more about grip and electric."

The movie is a Christmas story about a man in his mid-70s whose wife dies, and a young boy who comes into the picture and tries to help him out. It's filmed entirely in Coeur d'Alene and should be out in time for the holidays late this year, premiering in both Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. Copies will be for sale at area stores.