Sex offender arrested for failure to register
A previously convicted sex offender who is reportedly homeless was arrested Saturday on a felony warrant for failure to register only one day after his photo and information were posted on social media by Hot Springs police.
William Leslie Shields, 58, who lists no permanent address, was taken into custody around 10:30 a.m. and charged with failure to comply with registration and reporting requirements, punishable by up to
10 years in prison.
He remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of
$3,500 bond and is set to appear Jan. 23 in Garland County District Court. He also has a hold on him out of Hot Spring County.
Officer Joseph Samuels reportedly spotted a tent in a wooded area near the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Scott Street and made contact with the occupant, identified as Shields, and arrested him on the active warrant.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on May 22, 2017, Shields, a level 3 registered sex offender, appeared at the police department to register his address as “homeless.” Detective Kenny May told Shields he would have to report again in
30 days if he remained homeless.
On June 20, Shields again appeared at the department and registered his address as the Vagabond Motel, 4708 Central Ave. May told him since he had an address he only needed to report every six months unless there was a change in his address. He was told to come back on Dec. 3 to register again.
As of Dec. 13, May noted Shields had not contacted him or appeared at the police department to register as required. May extended the deadline to Dec. 20, but Shields still failed to appear.
On Dec. 20, May contacted the Vagabond Motel and was told
Shields was not staying there as a guest. As of Jan. 1, 2018, Shields had still failed to contact May or to appear to verify his address so a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Shields was previously arrested on Nov. 22,
2016, for failing to register and pleaded guilty to the charge in Garland County Circuit Court on June 13, 2017, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with the entire sentence suspended, fined
$2,500 and ordered to pay $370 in court costs. According to the affidavit for his 2016 arrest, on Sept. 22, 2015, Shields moved from Malvern to Hot Springs and told Malvern police he planned to move to the Shamrock Hotel, 508 Albert Pike. He signed paperwork acknowledging he understood he had to notify Hot Springs police within three days of moving here.
As of Nov. 8, 2016, more than a year later, he had not reported to Hot Springs police about his address. It was also noted he is required to report in every six months, but had not reported to any law enforcement agency since Sept. 22, 2015, so a warrant was issued and he was arrested 14 days later.
According to court records, Shields was originally convicted of indecent behavior with a juvenile in Louisiana in 1995, punishable by up to
25 years in prison.