Scott County Sheriff’s Office arrests registered sex offender for alleged registration violations

SCOTT CITY, Mo., (KBSI) — John Wells, a Tier 2 sex offender, has been charged with failure to register as a sex offender and residing too close to a daycare facility, both Class E felonies.

According to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Detective Jeremy Gardner received a tip in May that Wells, a registered sex offender from New Madrid County, was living at an unregistered address in Scott County.

Wells, who was convicted of possession of child pornography in 2017 and failure to register as a sex offender in 2024, admitted to living at the address for approximately three months without registering.

The investigation revealed that Wells was residing within 1,000 feet of a daycare facility, which may constitute an additional violation.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office is committed to enforcing registration laws and protecting public safety.