McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Compliance Officer Judith Grijalva is asking for the public’s help in locating Jonathan Bitsilly, 55, a registered sex offender.
Registered sex offenders living in McKinley County are required to check in with her whenever they move, and check in with her, per the conditions of their release from jail or prison.
Grijalva said her last contact with Bitsilly was on Jan. 13, when he moved in with his brother. However, he failed to show up for his scheduled follow-up appointment on Feb. 7, so she notified sheriff office investigators.
“We went a week later to (his address on file) see if he was there … he wasn’t there,” she said.
A warrant for his arrest was issued Feb. 21, for failure to comply with registration of a sex offender, a fourth-degree felony.
She believes he’s in the area, and may be living on the streets. And she wants the public to know that he was convicted twice for sex crimes.
In 2003, Bitsilly was charged and convicted of criminal sexual contact with a minor. Grijalva noted that the victim was a 9-year-old girl.
He struck again in 2010, but this time he was convicted for the rape of a 37-year-old woman.
Additionally, he’s wanted on a DWI warrant out of Gallup. Grijalva said Bitsilly likely changed his appearance by growing his hair out, and was last seen selling pinions in the Zuni area.
But, she believes he’s back in Gallup.
“He knows that he’s supposed to come in and register,” she said.
If you have any information on Bitsilly’s whereabouts, call Grijalva at (505) 722-8514.
By Babette Herrmann
Sun Editor
