Sex offender moved near school

A registered sex offender who is accused of failing to report his change of residence, which happened to be near a school, and employment could serve prison time.

Lonnie Phillip Moffitt, 41, of Green River was convicted in 1999 of third-degree sexual assault. Since then, he is required to notify the proper authorities on his employment or residential changes, however, he is accused of failing to do so.

Moffitt appeared in Third District Court of Judge Richard Lavery at an arraignment to two felony charges and three misdemeanor charges. The felonies, sex offender failure to report change of residence and sex offender failure to report change of employment, carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $2,000. The misdemeanor charges, prohibited access to school facilities by adult sex offenders, driving without ignition interlock device, driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked, subsequent offense, carry a maximum sentence of 1 and 1/2 years in jail and a maximum fine of $2,250. Moffitt pleaded not guilty to all counts; and a jury trial has been scheduled to take place June 6 at 9 a.m.

According to court documents, a Sweetwater County Sheriff’s deputy was assigned to investigate Moffitt’s alleged failure to comply with his requirement to register as a sex offender. This detective learned Moffitt had been convicted of third-degree sexual assault on July 19, 1999, in the Third District Court in Sweetwater County. The detective reviewed Moffitt’s current address and place of employment.

On a Notice to Persons Required to Register Paperwork form dated Jan. 8, 2016, Moffitt claimed he worked at Motel 6 in Rock Springs and lived at 98 Uinta Drive, Space 55 in Green River. The detective spoke to the Motel 6 general manager, Stella Stiles, who said Moffitt had been fired on Jan. 6, 2016, after he was arrested on a warrant at the motel. She said when Moffitt was released from jail on Jan. 8, 2016, he stopped by the motel and tried to get his job back. She told the detective Moffitt drives an old, white four-door car, maybe a Plymouth. Stiles said the rear passenger window behind the driver’s seat was broken and a black, plastic bag was used to cover it.

The detective confirmed the make and the model of the car and learned Moffitt was dating Alretta White, who lives in an apartment on Bridger Drive. The detective realized the apartment White and Moffitt were living in was allegedly located less than 1,000 feet from Harrison Elementary School, which is a sex offender violation.

The detective conducted surveillance on Moffitt’s car and White’s apartment. After completing surveillance, he informed a sheriff’s deputy sergeant. He also confirmed that Moffitt was allegedly driving under suspension, and without an ignition interlock device. The sergeant conducted his own surveillance on Moffitt’s car and White’s apartment; and allegedly confirmed what the detective had discovered.

On Jan. 28, 2016, deputies arrived at White’s apartment on Bridger Drive to arrest Moffitt. They told White they were there to arrest Moffitt on a warrant for an alleged probation violation. Moffitt was on probation for being convicted on Nov. 5, 2015, of sex offender failure to report change of address and sex offender failure to report change of vehicle.

White told them he was in the bedroom and she would get him. Detectives accompanied her and found Moffitt asleep on the bed. He was arrested and transported to jail.

White was interviewed and at first denied Moffitt was living with her; finally she admitted Moffitt was living there. She knew Moffitt was a registered sex offender. Deputies also talked to the apartment’s manager, Tina Lane, who said Moffitt’s name was not on the lease.