The Sheriff’s Office is notifying the public that a newly assessed Level 3 Registered Sex Offender (High Risk to re-offend) is residing in Baxter County.

NAME:                       KENNETH D. MARTIN

DATE OF BIRTH:   12/27/1965

HOME ADDRESS:  46 Penny Lane

                                   Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

     The offender was convicted in California of Forcible Rape of a mentally disabled 14 year old female acquaintance on October 29, 1998.  He also has previous convictions in the State of California in 1992 for Willful Child Cruelty and Involuntary Manslaughter involving the death of his 4 year old son.  Documentation indicates that the offender violated the terms of his Parole in California two (2) times in 1996 and then once again in 2008.

     The offender moved to Baxter County in December, 2010 and registered with the Sheriff’s Office.  Following his registration, it was learned that he provided a false address, and he was subsequently arrested in December, 2010 for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Laws.  

     Up until the time his formal assessment process in Arkansas was completed on June 14, 2011, and the 30 day period for an appeal had lapsed, the Sheriff’s Office lacked authority under existing law to make notification to the public about this offender.  That is why the Sheriff’s Office had to wait until now to make public notification of this Level 3 Sex Offender, who has actually lived here since December, 2010.

     However, with the passage of Act 100 of 2011 by the Arkansas General Assembly, which goes into effect next week, law enforcement will now be able to immediately notify the public whenever a Registered Sex Offender moves here from another state, without having to wait for the assessment process in Arkansas to be completed.

     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