Homeless level 3 sex offender arrested on felony warrant for failing to register
A reportedly homeless sex offender was arrested early Thursday on a felony warrant for failing to register as required after Hot Springs police responded to a reported disturbance.
William Herbert Dawson, 49, who listed “city streets” as his address, was taken into custody shortly after 5 a.m. in the 500 block of Jerome Street and charged with failure to comply with sex offender registration and reporting requirements, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana.
He was being held on $4,500 bond and is set to appear today in Garland
County District
Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 15, Dawson, a level
3 sex offender, came to the police department to verify his information in compliance with registration requirement and agreed to return no later than July 12 to again verify his information.
As of July 19, Dawson had not returned or contacted the police department to update his information. Detectives Hunter
Scott and Brian Branstetter went to Dawson’s last listed address at the Vagabond Motel, 4708 Central Ave., and spoke with the manager who stated Dawson had not stayed at the motel since March 22.
A warrant for Dawson’s arrest was later issued for failure to report a change of residency According to the arrest report Officer Chris Chapin responded
to the 500 block of Jerome Street regarding a man and woman “knocking on doors” in that area.
Once at the scene, Chapin made contact with the man, determined to be Dawson, and a computer check revealed the warrant for his address. He was also allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana at the time of his arrest.
A level 3 offender is considered to have a high risk of reoffending and the degree of danger posed to the public is such that a substantial public safety interest is served by having them register every six months.