Deputies search for missing sex offender
By Elizabeth Billips lizbillips@yahoo.com

Patrick Wayne Coker

Deputies are looking for an absconded sex offender.

Patrick W a y n e Coke r, 2 9 , has been una

ccounted for since late February when deputies did a routine residency check at his Shell Bluff Landing home, according to Sgt. Annette Hodge of the Burke County Sheriff 's Office.

Coker's mother said he still lived there, but officers became wary when he never showed up for his routine reregistration March 17.

Coker has been on the state registry since 2003 when he was convicted of sexual battery with a minor

Georgia law requires that sex offenders notify authorities of any residency change within 72 hours and that they reregister every year, three days prior to their birthdays.

Sgt. Hodge said a warrant for Coker's arrest has been issued for failure to comply with the sex offender registry.