The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is advising the public that Thomas Knipe, DOB 08/31/50, has registered as a Sexual Offender living in Sarasota County.

 

Knipe was convicted in 1985 in Iowa of Third Degree Sexual Abuse with Force and sentenced to ten years in prison. He was also convicted in 1999 in Louisiana of Molestation of a Juvenile with Physical or Mental Disabilities, Aggravated Oral Sexual Battery on a Minor and Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile. He was sentenced to an additional 12 years behind bars but only served three years before he was released on parole. Knipe recently relocated and reports his address is 731 Crestwood Road, Unit B, in Englewood. He is not currently under the supervision of the Florida Department of Corrections, and because the offenses occurred out of state and prior to 2004, residency restrictions do not apply.

 

This information is posted on the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office website, agency Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts to publicly notify citizens of sexual offenders and predators who register a Sarasota County address for the first time, when moving into the county or following release from prison. Citizens should still sign up to receive notifications from FDLE of sex offenders and predator registrations.