Sex offender roundup leaves residents on edge

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A recent roundup led to dozens of registered sex offenders behind bars and neighbors questioning who lives next door.

The Jonesboro Police Department recently conducted a Sex Offender Compliance Operation.

According to a report from JPD, of the 59 sex offenders in the city limits, 26 were not registered.

In addition to arresting those offenders, officers also seized various drugs and firearms.

Parents like Brian Roach said that information is important when it comes to where to take your child out of the house.

“Those people need to get registered so if they are on a certain side of town compared to another side,” Roach said. “You can avoid that area. You can go to a different park or playground and make it safer for kids.”

Roach is not the only parent that is a little on edge as Amber Wigton said this unfortunately makes her rethink the amount of freedom she gives her 9- and 11-year-old children.

“It does make things a little scarier. I have two kids, and I will let them walk from school sometimes,” Wigton said. “I will let them walk to the library, but to me, that is a little bit further.”

Wigton said although that number might not seem super high compared to how many people live in Jonesboro, it is still something that makes her think twice before letting her kids out.

“So now letting them walk anywhere by themselves it does make me a little bit wearier,” Wigton said.

Copyright 2023 KAIT. All rights reserved.