October 24, 2023

            Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said his office had a new sex offender register as a resident of the county on October 23rd. The offender has been assessed as a Level 4 offender, which is the most serious and most likely to reoffend. In the "Community Impact Risk" on his state assessment, Arkansas defines a Level 4 Sex Offender as a "Sexually Violent Predator."

            Wheeler said Thomas Ray Wilson (a.k.a., Thomas Stipe) is a 50-year-old white male who is 6'1" and 250 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He listed his residence as #7 NC 3670, Harrison. That residence is located near Boat Mountain Road about one mile south of the Boone County line.

            Sheriff Wheeler said the initial background information on Wilson is somewhat limited, but there are numerous indicators of multiple sexual assaults on children, mostly in the nine- to eleven-year-old range, both male and female. Some of those incidents involved violence. Wheeler said some of the offenses were in another state when Wilson was a juvenile, so those records are less available. Wheeler said, his office was just made aware of the move and Investigators are digging deeper into Wilson's history to learn more about him.

            "Initially, I want the residents of the county to know that a man with a history of violent sexual assault, that has been deemed likely to reoffend, has moved into our midst." Wheeler said. "We will keep a close eye on him and find out what we can about his history. What I have learned so far has been disturbing."

            Wheeler encourages residents to pay close attention and for parents to always be vigilant around others, but particular around those know to be sex offenders.

            Wheeler said with the upcoming trick-or-treating plans, his office, along with other agencies in the county will be out reminding sex offenders they cannot have contact with the little ghosts and goblins.

            "The safety of our kids is among our highest priorities, and we take it very seriously." Wheeler said.

           

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