U.S. Marshals, WV State Police Announce Results of Operation Cupid’s Arrow

Charleston, WV - The U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force and West Virginia State Police (WVSP) have just ended a two-week-long operation targeting non-compliant sex offenders in Kanawha County, as well as surrounding areas. 

Operation Cupid’s Arrow began Feb. 1 and concluded on Valentines Day. 

During the operation 38 arrests were made, 15 of which were for sex offenders who failed to register as sex offenders or those who had warrants for sex crimes. The WVSP conducted 108 sex offender compliance checks, and from those, 26 were found to be out of compliance. Arrest warrants were obtained for those out of compliance. 

Notable arrests include:

Christopher Shawn Rider, 34, of Lewisburg, was taken into custody in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 6. Rider had warrants from the WVSP for failure to register as a sex offender. He was also wanted by the WV Department of Corrections and rehabilitation on a parole violation. Rider has been evading apprehension from law enforcement since June of 2024 and has been out of sex offender compliance.

Christopher Rush, 50, of Elkview, was arrested Feb. 11 for employment or use of a minor to produce obscene matter or assist in sexually explicit conduct. Rush is alleged to have sent photos of himself sexually abusing a toddler to another man over a social media and messaging app.

Other arrests are for various offenses to include possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, child concealment, malicious wounding, strangulation, and federal probation violations.

Investigators also recovered four missing children during the operation, seized four firearms, 95.02 grams of methamphetamine and 18 grams of fentanyl. 

The U.S. Marshals Service also found five noncompliant sex offenders to be in violation of the Adam Walsh Act. Federal investigations were opened on those five sex offenders. 

If anyone knows the whereabouts of any noncompliant sex offender, you can submit a tip anonymously using USMS Tips or call 1-877-WANTED-2 or call the West Virginia State Police. Tips are kept confidential.  

Agencies involved in the operation included:

U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
West Virginia State Police
West Virginia State Police - Sex Offender Registry
West Virginia State Police - Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)
West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation
West Virginia Intelligence Exchange (WVIX)
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
Mingo County Sheriff’s Office
Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office
Charleston Police Department
Dunbar Police Department 
Kenova Police Department
Parkersburg Police Department
Saint Albans Police Department
South Charleston Police Department