Matthew Guthrie

     The Sheriff's Office is notifying the public that a new sex offender has registered with the Sheriff's Office after being convicted of sex crimes earlier this month. 

NAME:                       MATTHEW GUTHRIE

DATE OF BIRTH:   11/07/1985

HOME ADDRESS:   271 CR 454

                                    Mountain Home, AR 72653  

     The offender was convicted after trial by jury on 08/02/2021 in Baxter County, Arkansas of six counts of Sexual Assault in the First Degree, Class A Felonies.  These offenses involved the offender, when employed as a law enforcement officer assigned as a school resource officer, engaging in sexual contact with a then 16-year-old juvenile student enrolled in the school where he was working.  These offenses occurred during 2019.  The offender was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $30,000.  In addition, the offender was ordered to register as a sex offender.

     (This offender has not yet been assigned a Risk Level by SOCNA (Sex Offender Community Notification Assessment).

     This person is not wanted by law enforcement at this time.  This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.  This information cannot be used to threaten, intimidate, or harass Registered Sex Offenders.  Citizen abuse will not be tolerated.  Such abuse could potentially end law enforcement's ability to do community notification.   

     /s/ John F. Montgomery
    Baxter County Sheriff