A Level 3 sex offender found sleeping at a local bus stop was arrested early Wednesday for allegedly failing to register as required, having left his original listed address without notifying authorities.
Lucas Kevin Strother, 57, who is reportedly homeless at this time, was taken into custody shortly before 12:30 a.m. and charged with a felony count of failure to comply with sex offender registration and reporting requirements, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Strother remained in custody Wednesday in lieu of a $3,500 bond and is set to appear June 6 in Garland County District Court. According to the sex offender registry, he was previously convicted of rape and is classified as a Level 3 offender, considered high risk with a history of repeat sexual offending.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police Cpl. Nathan Rines and Officer Anthony Montano saw a man sleeping at the bus stop at 800 Malvern Ave. and made contact with him, identifying him as Strother.
A computer check showed his sex offender status so Montano asked him what address he was registered at and Strother said the Vagabond Motel, 4708 Central Ave. According to the registry, that was his last known address.
Montano remembered making contact with Strother at that same location and Strother had told him then he was no longer living at the Vagabond. Strother then allegedly admitted he has been homeless for at least two weeks.
The affidavit notes Strother has not changed his address per reporting requirements within five days of any change so he was taken into custody at that point.