§ 5-14-131 - Registered offender living near victim or having contact with victim prohibited. - Arkansas Statutes

5-14-131. Registered offender living near victim or having contact with victim prohibited.

(a) As used in this section, "victim" means a victim of a sex offense for which a person is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1997, 12-12-901 et seq.

(b) It is unlawful for a person who is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1997, 12-12-901 et seq., and who has been assessed as a Level 3 or Level 4 offender to knowingly:

(1) Reside within two thousand feet (2,000') of the residence of his or her victim; or

(2) Have direct or indirect contact with his or her victim for the purpose of harassment under 5-71-208.

(c) (1) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for a violation of subdivision (b)(1) of this section if the property where the sex offender resides is owned and occupied by the sex offender and was purchased prior to the date on which his or her victim began residing within two thousand feet (2,000') of the residence of the sex offender.

(2) The affirmative defense in subdivision (c)(1) of this section is not available to a sex offender who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of another sex offense involving his or her victim after his or her victim began residing within two thousand feet (2,000') of the residence of the sex offender.

(d) (1) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for a violation of subdivision (b)(1) of this section if the sex offender resides on property he or she owned prior to March 21, 2007.

(2) The affirmative defense in subdivision (d)(1) of this section is not available to a sex offender who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of another sex offense involving his or her victim after March 21, 2007.

(e) Upon conviction, a person who violates this section is guilty of a Class D felony.