SAN DIEGO -- 10News learned law enforcement officials may have missed an opportunity regarding sex offender John Gardner weeks before Chelsea King's death.

According to the investigative journalism Web site The Enterprise Report, Gardner was stopped at a DUI checkpoint in Lake Elsinore on Jan. 30. He was driving a 2002 Nissan Sentra that belongs to his girlfriend of nearly two years, Jariah Baker.

Sheriff's deputies in the area were on the lookout for a man who tried to abduct a young girl at gunpoint in October. Even though a sketch had been distributed which bore a resemblance to Gardner, authorities allowed him to pass through the checkpoint.

The Enterprise Report said deputies were all made aware of the sketch, and the deputies at the checkpoint learned about Gardner's history upon stopping him.

Eric Longabardi, founder of The Enterprise Report said, "When they ran his information, it came back that he's a registered sex offender."

Despite the information about Gardner's sex offenses, it appeared deputies never put the pieces together and let Gardner go with a citation for expired tags and not having proof of insurance.

More than a month later, the focus has returned to the car Gardner borrowed from his girlfriend. 10News has confirmed he lived with Baker from November 2009 to January 2010 at her Escondido apartment with her two toddler sons from a previous relationship. Gardner was registered with authorities at the Escondido address.

According to The Enterprise Report, Baker's car has been seized and is now the focus of an evidence search.

Deputies did not have a good explanation for why they did not bring in Gardner for a questioning, The Enterprise Report said.

When 10News called the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, they said a court gag order now prevents them from discussing the situation.