A registered sex offender was arrested Monday, July 14, after failing to comply with multiple state-mandated registration and reporting requirements.
Stephen Rey Groat, 54, of Mountain Home, was taken into custody by Baxter County Sheriff’s deputies after it was discovered he had been working at a local business without notifying the Sheriff’s Office, as required by law. Groat is classified as a Level 3 sex offender, indicating a higher risk of reoffense.
Deputy Tanner Anderson began investigating after receiving information that Groat was employed, despite previously reporting in January 2025 that he was unemployed. The business owner confirmed that Groat had been working there for the past month and had not disclosed his sex offender status.
Authorities also determined that Groat had unreported social media accounts, including Snapchat and Instagram, linked to his email address—another violation of reporting requirements.
Groat was arrested and booked into the Baxter County Detention Center on a felony charge of Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration and Reporting. He is being held on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Circuit Court on July 21.
