JONESBORO, Ark. – A level 2 sex offender was arrested for failing to register a change in address to police, according to the police report.
Jonesboro Police Department was contacted by a witness saying Christopher Ritchey, 32, of Jonesboro, a non-reportable level 2 sex offender, had been staying in the backyard at a home at the 5300-block of Trammel. Ritchey was reported to be living at the 4700-block of Samantha, but the witness stated he had been at the new address for “several months.”
When Ritchey came to JPD on Wednesday, he said he had been unable to register because he had been out of town with his 12-year-old son attending a funeral. His story didn’t seem straight to authorities and he was arrested. He told police his son was at the camper.
Authorities arrived and found the child, who said they had been staying there since before early November. He was placed in DHS custody.
Ritchey faces a felony charge of failure to register.
Pursuant to 12-12-904, Arkansas state law requires the offender to report any changes in residence, mailing address, temporary domicile, employment, email, social network information IN person to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction at that time of the change. When changing residence/mailing address or temporary domicile, this must be done no later than ten (10) days before the offender establishes residence or temporary domicile unless otherwise indicated such as eviction or natural disaster. When changing address within the state of Arkansas the offender must also report to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction at the new address within three (3) days after relocating to the new address.
If the offender moves here from another state and is required or has been required to register in the other state, the offender must report to the jurisdiction law enforcement agency any residency or temporary domicile in which you will be residing for an aggregate of five (5) or more consecutive days during a calendar year. Other than a change of address, an offender shall report a change of any other information required to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction within ten (10) days of the change.
Thank you for helping me find my son