A Sullivan County grand jury on Wednesday handed down indictments against a violent sex offender accused of fondling a 10-year-old girl while living in her home.
The grand jury indicted Ricky Melvin Helton, 42, 940 Chadwick Drive, Apt. 4, on two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one violation of the Tennessee Sexual Offender registry.Kingsport Police arrested Helton in January. His charges stem from allegations of incidents that occurred in early 2007.
At that time, Helton was living in a home where the victim also resided, even though the Tennessee Sexual Offender Registry barred him from living with a minor.Helton registered as a sex offender following a June 9, 1993 conviction in Florida for lewd and lascivious acts on a minor, according to the indictment.
Helton lived with the victim's family for about six months or so, said Kingsport Police Department Detective Melanie Adkins. The girl's family apparently had no idea of their house guest's background, she added.A Department of Children's Services referral prompted the investigation in late 2008, Adkins said.
Helton remains jailed in the Sullivan County Detention Center in lieu of a $150,000 bond.
"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte
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