A registered sex offender classified as a High Level 2 (moderate risk to re-offend with community notification justified) was arrested this morning, March 26th, for failing to comply with reporting and registration requirements.
JESSE AARON AVANT, 36 years old residing at 130 Baxter CR 804 in Gamaliel, Arkansas, reported to the Sheriff’s Office this morning to attend a mandatory verification appointment. During this meeting, JESSE AVANT, who is currently on felony probation status, informed the registration deputy that the only electronic devices he possessed were a cellular phone and a PlayStation 5 gaming device. AVANT reported that he did not possess or use any email addresses or have any social media accounts, all of which would have to be disclosed to the Sheriff’s Office by law. He did not bring his cellular phone with him, claiming he had forgotten to bring it from home.
Later this morning, Deputy Tanner Anderson along with a probation officer from Arkansas Community Corrections, visited AVANT’S residence. During this home visit, Deputy Anderson was able to retrieve the cellular phone. An active Facebook account was found on the phone. AVANT claimed the Facebook account belonged to a female and that he never accesses it. Upon further examination, the device was found to contain several social media accounts that had never been disclosed to the Sheriff’s Office during the registration process, contrary to law.
When AVANT was confronted with these findings he became highly agitated and was asking not to be arrested. His actions caused children at the residence to become distressed, and he refused to calm down.
JESSE AVANT was arrested and transported to the Baxter County Detention Center where he has been incarcerated on charges of:
Failure to Comply with Registration and Reporting Requirements – Felony
Disorderly Conduct – Misdemeanor
AVANT is being held on $15,000 bond, and he is scheduled to appear before the Circuit Court to answer on March 30th.
