Judge Sets $950,000 Bonds for Two Sex Offenders Accused of Failing to Register

JONESBORO, Ark. — Two registered sex offenders accused of failing to comply with Arkansas reporting requirements received $950,000 cash or surety bonds Wednesday afternoon in Craighead County District Court.

District Judge David Boling set bonds at $950,000 cash or surety for Michael Nelson Murawski, 45, of Lenox, Michigan, and April Genene Sutton, 44, of Jonesboro. Both are charged with failure to register and failure to comply with reporting requirements, a Class C felony in Arkansas.

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Their next court dates were set for June 26.

During the hearing, Murawski appeared surprised by the bond amount and asked how much that would be. Boling explained that a $950,000 cash or surety bond would typically require $95,000 through a bondsman. Murawski’s jaw dropped after the explanation.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Murawski is required to register as a sex offender within five days of moving to Arkansas. Police said he is registered in Michigan as a Tier 3 lifetime registrant. The affidavit states his vehicle was detected in Jonesboro eight times since April 9 through a license plate reader system, but police said Murawski had not contacted the Jonesboro Police Department to complete his registration in Arkansas.

A separate affidavit states Sutton is required to register as a sex offender and had reported a move from Jonesboro to Paragould in March. Police said she did not move to the Paragould address and made no attempt to contact Jonesboro police to report or update her physical address.

At the time of her arrest, Sutton was staying at a storage building on Locust Drive in Jonesboro, according to the affidavit. Police said the location was within 2,000 feet of the First Presbyterian Preschool, which the affidavit said is prohibited for a Level 3 sex offender.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.