BENTON COUNTY (KFSM) – A sex offender in Benton County was arrested on Wednesday (March 18) after he failed to show up and serve his sentence following his conviction in January, deputies say.
Adam Gould, 40, of Bella Vista was sentenced to two years in prison on Jan . 16 for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl, according to court documents. After he served his 24 months, he was supposed to have 10 years of probation.
Arkansas law states convicts are to report to their local law enforcement agency no later than 10 days after the date of sentencing. This means Gould had until Jan. 26 to report. Deputies with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said he failed to do so.
On March 18, deputies were notified of a possible unregistered sex offender living in Bella Vista. They arrived at Summit Place Avenue and found Gould at the residence. They then took him into the sheriff’s office for questioning.
During the interview, deputies asked Gould if he had reported to authorities concerning his probation, and he told them he had not, according to an arrest report. He also told authorities he did not think he was supposed to report for probation until he served his prison time, the report states.
Deputies then asked Gould when he was supposed to start serving his prison sentence, and he replied that he’d heard it had been pushed back multiple times from January. They asked him if he’d contacted authorities to question the postponement of his sentence, and he told them he had not, the report states.
Gould said he’d done everything he was supposed to do and informed deputies that he signed his sentencing order and probation agreement without reading them, according to the report.
In addition to being convicted of second-degree sexual assault, Gould now faces a charge of failure to register as a sex offender, jail records state. Those same records also state his court date has been scheduled for April 27.
No bond has been set for Gould.
