Photo: Gary Gipson
A registered sex offender residing in Marion County has been charged in connection with “preaching” through a Facebook page not registered with the sheriff’s office.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Thursday, 60-year-old Gary Gipson of Summit was questioned by law enforcement in November about the Facebook account, following a tip to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office website.
When questioned, Gipson allegedly admitted using his wife’s Facebook page to “preach every now and then.”
In an interview with law enforcement, Gipson denied having his own Facebook page. When confronted with copies of a shared Facebook page, the Summit man reportedly said, “I told her she needed to get my name off there before I get into trouble.”
Gipson then inquired about the couple’s ministry at a homeless shelter in Calico Rock involving singing, preaching and bringing food.
He was questioned if minor children are present and said they were but are with other people or in the crowd.
Gipson told law enforcement he made those in the shelter aware he was a convicted sex offender, adding if there was a problem, he would not attend.
Law enforcement explained to Gipson it is not illegal about preaching or having a Facebook account. However, the law requires the account be registered with the sheriff’s office where he is residing. He was also advised the account would be monitored “from time to time” by law enforcement.
Online records with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office indicate Gipson was convicted in 1996 of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse involving two 11-year-old females.
He has been charged with one felony count of failure to register as a sex offender or report change in the latest incident. His bond was set at $2,500.
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