Seven sex offenders have been arrested in Carter County following a two-day countywide sex offender registry compliance check operation.

The suspects were charged with a variety of offenses, including unlawful possession of weapons, Schedule VI drug violations, and violations of sexual offender registration laws. Twelve weapons were seized by law enforcement during the operation, which took place April 10-11.

Multiple agencies worked cooperatively on the compliance check, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the US Marshals Service, the Elizabethton Police Department and the Carter County Sheriff’s Office. Carter County investigators are planning to bring more charges in the coming weeks.

List of Suspects and Charges:
Brandon Keith Graves (age 35) – Violation of Sexual Offender Registration Laws, Failure to
Report for Yearly Status Check In Person
Chrissie Dawn Hess (38) – Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon (2x)
Charles Anthony Byrd (49) – Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon, Schedule VI Drug
Violations
Joseph Francis Dibiase (49) – Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon
David Mark Markland (45) – Violation of Sexual Offender Registration Laws
James Robert Blevins (65) – Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon (4x)
Jeff Morton (60) – Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon (3x), Violation of Sexual
Offender Registration Laws, Violation of Sex Offender Reporting and Monitoring