Authorities: 'Major development' in missing Florida girl case
 |  Authorities say John Evander Couey is a "person of interest" in the case. |
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|  VIDEO |
 Police name a convicted sex offender a "person of interest."
 John Couey is taken into custody on unrelated charges.
 Rudi Bakhtiar explores Florida's sex-offender registry.
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| 'PERSON OF INTEREST' | John "Johnny" Evander Couey
White male
Born September 19, 1958
5 feet 4 inches, 125 pounds
Blue eyes, gray hair
Goatee
Tattoos on right arm
Criminal history:
Outstanding warrant for violation of probation charge stemming from a 2004 arrest for possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Arrested multiple times on various charges, including burglary, carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly intoxication, driving under the influence, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, fraud, insufficient funds and larceny.
Arrested in 1991 on charges of a sex offense, fondling a child under the age of 16.
Registered sexual offender in Citrus County.
Has absconded more than once.
Driver's license suspended for 99 years.
Source: Citrus County Sheriff's Office
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HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, Florida (CNN) -- Authorities have sealed off the Homosassa Springs, Florida, home where convicted sex offender John Evander Couey was staying when 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford disappeared three weeks ago.
The home is across the street from the Lunsfords' home where Jessica was last seen in her bedroom February 23.
Helicopters are flying overhead the area. Yellow crime scene tape is stretched around the property. Police are searching the grounds and nearby wooded area.
A member of the Lunsford family told CNN that police have said a search warrant has been issued to search the property.
The Citrus County Sheriff's Office said there has been a "major development" in the case and a news conference is expected shortly.
Except for an unlocked front door, the Lunsford home was undisturbed, with no signs of a struggle. She lived with her father -- Mark Lunsford -- and her grandparents.
Lunsford said he had never seen Couey before or heard his name. He had earlier told reporters he was not convinced that Couey was involved.
Couey was arrested on parole violation charges at a homeless shelter in Augusta, Georgia on Thursday and questioned in the disappearance, law enforcement sources said.
Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength described Couey as "cooperative."
"He was taken without incident. He did not try to hide who he was," the sheriff said. "He told us who he was. And we had no problem whatsoever with him."
Investigators from Citrus County, Florida -- the lead team on the investigation -- and the FBI are questioning Couey.
The 46-year-old is registered in Citrus County as a sex offender but wasn't living at the address he had given authorities, sheriff's department spokeswoman Ronda Hemminger Evan said.
Authorities had already searched Couey's residence and removed several items from it, Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said.
Jessica is 4 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 70 pounds, has light brown hair and was last reported wearing a pink nightgown.
Dawsy said that Couey's name came up when authorities were investigating sexual offenders in the area.
Warrant issued after address change
Under Florida law, a convicted sex offender must register his change of address, and a warrant was issued, according to the sheriff.
Dawsy said detectives have been concerned about Couey because of his criminal history spanning more than three decades and 24 arrests, including burglary, carrying a concealed weapon, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, larceny and drug charges.
Couey pleaded guilty to 1991 felony charges of sex offense against a child, fondling a child under 16, and lewd and lascivious conduct in Kissimmee, Florida. He was convicted of indecent exposure in 1987, according to records from the sheriff's office.
During a 1978 burglary for which he was convicted, Couey was accused of grabbing a girl in her bedroom, placing his hand over her mouth and kissing her, Dawsy said.
CNN's Susan Candiotti, Sara Dorsey, Patrick Oppmann, Richard Phillips and John Zarrella contributed to this report.
