"Sexually violent predator" moves into county | Crime

A Level 4 registered sex offender, considered a "sexually violent predator," is now living in Midway.

According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, William Claude Shelton, 56, is now living in the 180-block of Country Life Place.

Shelton was convicted of two counts of first degree sexual abuse and sodomy in 1989.  According to the sheriff, Shelton engaged in sexual contact with two young boys.

In 2010 Shelton was convicted of pandering or possession of visual or print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.  He was sentenced to 60 months in the Arkansas Department of Correction.

According to Sheriff Montgomery, Shelton "should not be in any relationship, occupation or volunteer enterprise giving him unsupervised access to minors."  Montgomery adds Shelton is "known to cultivate adult friendships to gain access to their children."

Shelton reported prefers pubescent males and admits a "deviant sexual attraction to minor males between the ages of 10 to 14."

He is not wanted by law enforcement at this time.  According to the sheriff, this notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is believed that an "informed public is a safer public."

Montgomery adds this information cannot be used to threaten, intimidate or harass the offender.  Citizen abuse will not be tolerated.

Photos provided by Baxter County Sheriff's Office.