(This article is a press release from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office.)
A sex offender who had been placed on the Sheriff’s Website as a “Most Wanted” person was arrested this morning at an apartment in Mountain Home.
A bench warrant for the arrest of JAMES LEE LANE, 45 years old and claiming to be homeless, was obtained in September by Sheriff’s Deputy Tanner Anderson after LANE had been discharged from a recovery center for disciplinary violations. LANE had been ordered to by the court to remain at the center.
JAMES LANE failed to register with the Sheriff’s Office after leaving the recovery facility as required by law, and a warrant for Fail to Register was thus obtained.
Sheriff’s Deputies had been trying to locate LANE since September. Deputies learned today that LANE may be hiding out at his estranged wife’s apartment at 213 North Church Street in Mountain Home. The estranged wife is on probation with Arkansas Community Corrections with a search waiver on file. This morning, Deputy Anderson and officers with Arkansas Community Corrections went to this address and gained entry into the apartment. Once inside, they found JAMES LANE hiding in a closet in the back room. He was arrested and taken into custody without incident.
JAMES LANE was transported to the Detention Center and booked for Failing to Register as a sex offender and for Contempt of Court. He is currently being held without bond, and he will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on December 7th.
/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff
