A sex offender must keep their driving vehicles registered with Arkansas Community Corrections.
And officials allege a registered sex offender living in Izard County did not do just that and violated the law.
According to documents filed in Izard County Circuit Court on July 6, an Arkansas Community Corrections agent noticed such a thing happening with registered offender Chad J. Langston, 38, of Melbourne.
The court record said Langston apparently had a 2008 Jeep Patriot registered as his vehicle of use, but he had been driving a Saturn SUV for several days. Police say the SUV had registration and inspection stickers from New York and Missouri.
When confronted with the situation, officers say Langston declined to answer questions without an attorney present.
The court filing said Arkansas law mandates a registered sex offender report any change in vehicle make, model, color, and license tag number that the sex offender owns, operates, or to which he or she has access.
Arkansas law also says the sex offender has five calendar days to update his or her vehicle information or will be in violation of the law. Court documents said Langston had been driving or had access to the Saturn SUV for at least 10 days and had not registered the change on his sex offender registration.
Langston has been charged with felony failure to comply with registration and reporting requirements. He is also being charged as a habitual offender. Court documents say Langston was served on July 5, was placed on a $10,000 cash or professional bond, and was given a July 19 court date. The documents said on July 7, Langston was not allowed to bond. He remains on the roster of the Izard County Detention Center.
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