Sex offender found to be living near park

A convicted sex offender has been charged in Sequoyah County District Court with failure to comply with sex offender registration and obstructing an officer, after moving into a Muldrow residence that authorities told him not to.

Ricky D. Flynn, 52, of Muldrow, was formally charged on Oct. 17 and is now scheduled for a Nov. 29 felony disposition docket before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters, according to court records.

On the afternoon of Oct. 7, Muldrow Police Sgt. Riley Brooks reported he was notified that Flynn was at the department, stating he was there to register within the town as a sex offender.

When Brooks questioned him about where he wanted to reside, Flynn gave him an address on NW 1st Street and Brooks told him that he didn’t think he’d be able to live there because it was too close to the town’s Little League park.

Brooks and Asst. Police Chief Brad Roberts reportedly measured the distance and determined Flynn’s place of residence would be too close to the park. Flynn told Brooks he understood, but he’d already paid the landlord and would have to find another place to live. Brooks said he advised him that he’d have to move and left the police station.

On Oct. 10, Brooks reported finding a vehicle at the residence Flynn was originally at and ran the tag, discovering the vehicle was registered to an Arkansas sex offender. After speaking with the District Attorney’s office, Brooks was told Flynn was in violation of his sex offender registry and returned to the residence. Flynn was seen walking to the mailbox and Brooks activated his emergency lights in an attempt to stop and speak with him. Brooks said when he asked Flynn if he was living there, he told him “no, he was only there to visit,” according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case. When asked if he had property inside the residence, Flynn said “there may be some stuff in the home from where he’d been visiting.” A female came out of the residence at that time and asked Flynn why police were there. Flynn answered the woman and then she went back inside the residence. Flynn was then told to go with another officer while the female was interviewed. The woman told Brooks she didn’t know Flynn was a registered sex offender and they’d moved into the residence on Oct. 1. She then gave police permission to look inside the residence, where they discovered men’s clothing items, prescriptions belonging to Flynn, and other items.

Flynn was then placed under arrest and transported to the Sequoyah County Detention Center where he was booked in on his charges.

If found guilty of the failure to register charge, District Attorney Jack Thorp said Flynn could face incarceration in a correctional facility for not more than five years and a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine. Thorp said the obstructing an officer charge is punishable by imprisonment up to one year and/or a fine up to $500, or both.