Ontonagon County Sex Offenders

Ontonagon County sex offender records are public and available through the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry, a free statewide tool operated by the Michigan State Police. Residents of Michigan's Upper Peninsula can search registered sex offenders in Ontonagon County by name, address, or zip code using the Michigan PSOR. Local registration is handled at the Ontonagon County Sheriff's Office in the village of Ontonagon.

Ontonagon County Sex Offender Registry Search

The Michigan PSOR search portal covers all Michigan counties, including Ontonagon. The search is free and open to the public. You can look up by name, zip code, city, or street address. Each result shows the registrant's photo, current address, vehicle information, and the offense that triggered registration. Updates reflect changes submitted within the three-day window required by MCL 28.725.

Ontonagon County is one of Michigan's most remote counties, located in the western Upper Peninsula along Lake Superior. It is one of the least populated counties in the state, with around 6,000 residents. The county covers more than 1,300 square miles of heavily forested land. The village of Ontonagon serves as the county seat and is home to most county government offices. Due to the sparse population, the local registry is small, but the same Michigan-wide rules apply here as in every other county.

The Ontonagon County Sheriff's Office local resources page is listed at ontonagonmi.org/local-organizations/. The image below is linked from that site.

The Ontonagon County Sheriff's Office is the registration authority for all sex offenders who live, work, or go to school in Ontonagon County.

Ontonagon County Sheriff's Office Registration

Sex offender registration in Ontonagon County takes place at the Sheriff's Office at 620 Conglomerate St., Ontonagon, MI 49953. The main phone is (906) 884-4901. Sheriff Dale Rantala leads the department. All registration must be done in person. You cannot register remotely, by phone, or through the mail.

When you come to the Sheriff's Office to register, bring a government-issued photo ID, proof of your current Ontonagon County address, and any vehicle information. Under MCL 28.723, initial registration must happen within three business days of establishing a new address in the county. The same three-day window applies every time you change addresses within Ontonagon County, add a new vehicle, or update your school or work location. Missing that window is a felony offense under MCL 28.729.

Because Ontonagon County is geographically large and sparsely populated, it is worth calling the Sheriff's Office at (906) 884-4901 before your trip to confirm hours and ensure the right staff are available to process your registration.

Note: For questions about whether your specific offense requires registration in Ontonagon County, contact the Michigan State Police SOR Unit at (517) 241-1806 or at psors@michigan.gov.

Registration Tiers in Ontonagon County

Michigan's three-tier classification system under MCL 28.725a applies to every registered sex offender in the state, including those in Ontonagon County. The tier is set at sentencing and cannot be changed by local authorities.

Tier I covers lower-level sex offenses, such as fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520e. Tier I registrants verify once per year and stay on the registry for 15 years. Tier II applies to mid-level crimes like second-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520c. These registrants verify every six months and remain registered for 25 years. Tier III covers the most serious offenses, including first-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520b. Tier III registrants verify quarterly and are on the public registry for life.

State law sets all fees at $50 for initial registration and $50 for each annual renewal, with a $550 lifetime cap.

Michigan SORA and Ontonagon County Registrants

The Sex Offenders Registration Act at MCL 28.721 governs all sex offender registration in Michigan, including Ontonagon County. The law is uniform across all 83 counties. It sets who must register, how often they verify, and what the penalties are for non-compliance. The Michigan State Police manages the central database under MCL 28.728 and runs the public PSOR.

Failing to register or update information is a serious felony. Under MCL 28.729, a first offense can result in four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A second violation brings a maximum of seven years and $10,000. Third and later offenses carry up to ten years and a $10,000 fine. The Ontonagon County Prosecutor handles these cases.

Registrants who leave Ontonagon County must notify the Sheriff's Office and re-register in their new county within three business days. Those moving out of state must comply with Michigan's departure requirements and the laws of the destination state. Registrants spending more than seven consecutive days in another Michigan county must register there as well. Given the county's location near the Wisconsin border, anyone who regularly crosses into another state should check the registration requirements in that jurisdiction too.

Other Offender Records Tools for Ontonagon County

The PSOR is the main tool for sex offender searches in Ontonagon County, but additional resources are available. The Michigan Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) is free and shows current parole and probation status for Michigan offenders. If someone recently left state prison and may be living in remote Ontonagon County, OTIS and the PSOR together give a fuller picture.

The Michigan State Police offers ICHAT for $10 per search. It returns Michigan felony and misdemeanor conviction records across all offense types. The National Sex Offender Public Website is free and searches all fifty state registries in one step. This is especially useful for Ontonagon County given its proximity to Wisconsin, since someone might have a registration history in an adjacent state.

Cities in Ontonagon County

Ontonagon County is one of Michigan's smallest counties by population. No communities in the county meet the threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The village of Ontonagon is the county seat and largest community. To search for sex offenders in any part of Ontonagon County, use the Michigan PSOR and filter by zip code or city name.

Nearby Counties

Ontonagon County is located in the western Upper Peninsula and borders several other UP counties. View sex offender registry information for neighboring areas below.