By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
A convicted sex offender who was found living within 2,000 feet of several Yukon schools and a park could head back to prison for failing to register his address with local police.
Matthew Wayne Ross, 39, was charged Dec. 10 in Canadian County District Court with failure to register as a sex offender.
Prosecutors allege Ross committed the felony crime by violating Oklahoma’s Sex Offender Registry Act. The allegations against the convicted Yukon sex offender are detailed in a probable cause affidavit signed by Yukon Police Det. Curtis Lemmings.
Det. Lemmings in early October received an anonymous tip about an aggravated sex offender living in the 600 block of S 8th Street Drive.
The police investigator determined the address where Ross was living is 460 feet from the Yukon Middle School, 1,573 feet from Children’s New World daycare, 1,294 feet from St. John Nepomuk Catholic School, 1,053 feet from Central Elementary School, and 740 feet from Kimbell Park.
Ross has several felony convictions stretching back more than 20 years for sex offenses in Oklahoma County District Court, state Department of Corrections records show. He has spent time in state prison for rape, forcible sodomy and a previous conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.
As a convicted sex offender, Ross is required by law to register with local law enforcement and to notify them if he moves.
TRAFFIC STOP
After determining that Ross had lived 45 consecutive days at the 8th Street Drive home, Det. Lemmings on Dec. 5 conducted a traffic stop of Ross’ vehicle near the address.
When Ross confirmed he lived there, the detective arrested him.
During an interview at the Yukon Police Station, Lemmings advised the defendant “he was in violation of the sex offender registration (act) and was also residing too close to four schools and one city park,” according to the probable cause affidavit.
“The defendant stated he had been in contact with his probation officer in Oklahoma County and he does not have any residency restrictions and is currently wearing an ankle monitor.”
The court document indicates the Yukon detective told Ross he was an aggravated sex offender and “lifetime registrant”, but the defendant argued he “would not have to register” after January 2020.
The police investigator located several mail documents for Ross with the 8th Street Drive address.
A preliminary hearing conference for Ross is set 9 a.m. Jan. 6, 2020 before Special Judge Khristan Strubhar.
