‘Dangerous' sex offender arrested

BARSTOW • A Barstow man with a history of violent and sexual crimes was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender and evading parole, police said Friday.

Richard “Opie” Woodrum, 45, had failed to register or check in with his parole agent after being released from custody in January, according to a Barstow Police report. A warrant for his arrest was issued, listing him as “armed and dangerous.”

Woodrum was convicted of sexual battery in 1990, requiring him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Since that time, he’s been convicted of a slew of violent crimes in San Bernardino County, including robbery, burglary and assault with a deadly weapon. He has also failed to register as a sex offender in 2006.

Barstow police received an anonymous call about Woodrum, which led them to Woodrum’s mother’s house on the 15000 block of Tournament Drive in the Silver Lakes and Helendale area where he was arrested Thursday.

“It’s important for us to get these criminals off the streets,” Espinoza said. “It’s safer for you, safer for me and safer for everybody.”

Woodrum’s case was forwarded to the District Attorney’s office, the report said.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Angel Nevarez at (760) 255-5167 or the Barstow Police Department at (760) 256-2211. Those who wish to report anonymously can call the WeTip hotline at (800) 782-7463 or visit www.wetip.com.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or klucia@desertdispatch.com