Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods is asking for the public’s help to locate a 45-year-old registered sex offender who failed to comply with his registration requirements less than two months after he was released from prison for the same offense.
During his regular “Wanted by Woods Wednesday” Facebook segment on September 6, Sheriff Woods asked for assistance with finding Leon Orange, Jr. He is wanted for two counts of failure to comply with sexual offender registration requirements.
In 2000, Orange was convicted in Marion County of lewd or lascivious conduct on a 15-year-old. As a result of his conviction, he is supposed to register his home address with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and he must notify MCSO within 48 hours if he moves.
Sheriff Woods stated that deputies went to the home that Orange listed on his most recent registration and the homeowner advised that Orange no longer lived there.
Deputies were unable to locate Orange and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
This is not the first time that Orange has failed to comply with his registration requirements. He has been convicted of this offense a total of six times, and he was released from prison on July 26, 2023, for the same offense.
“We need your help getting this sex offender off the streets, into my jail, and back to prison where he belongs,” stated Sheriff Woods.
If you have any information on Orange’s whereabouts, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office asks that you call the Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867) and reference 23-48 in your tip. If you use Crime Stoppers and your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.