(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's assistance in locating and apprehending a fugitive non-compliant registered sex offender.

Chief Deputy Sheriff Michael Meeks says on February 5, an arrest warrant was issued for 34 year old Mitchell Wayne Hephner charging him with 2 counts of felony Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender.

The warrant follows a Sheriff's Office investigation into allegations that Hephner failed to comply with Indiana's Sex and Violent Offender Registry requirements. Meeks says since the warrant was issued, Hephner has allegedly failed to appear in person at the Sheriff's Office to update his registration information as required and appears to have absconded. Additional charges are being sought by Sheriff's detectives.

Hephner is described as white male standing 6"1" and weighing approximately 190 pounds. He has long brown hair, brown eyes, and is known to wear a goatee or beard, and has numerous tattoos all over his body including his face.

Hephner is believed to be in Williams County, Ohio or in southern Michigan. However, Hephner also has ties to the DeKalb and Allen County, areas. He was last known to be driving a black 2008 Mercury Milan with an Indiana license plate of NGG747.

Anyone with information on Mitchell Hephner's whereabouts is asked to contact the Steuben County Sheriff's Office at 260-668-1000, extension. 5224; The US Marshals Service Tip Line at 1-877-926-8332, or your local law enforcement agency.