Convicted Fargo sex offender cut off monitoring device, police unaware of his location

FARGO - A high risk registered sex offender, Thomas Jose Eppler, also known as Jose Munoz Gutierrez, cut off the GPS monitoring unit he was wearing today and police do not know his whereabouts.

Police sent out a news release late this afternoon to notify the public about Eppler and say officers don't know whether he remains in Fargo or has left the area.

Agents from the North Dakota Department of Corrections are seeking an arrest warrant for Eppler, whose registered address is 528 27th St. N.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact local law enforcement.

Eppler, who was born in 1985, is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing 172 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair.

In 2007, Eppler was convicted in North Dakota's Burleigh County for felony sexual assault. He is required to register as a lifetime offender.

Eppler also has convictions in Minnesota and Iowa for burglary, fleeing/eluding, assault and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

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