A sex offender charged with violating the rules and regulations governing registration appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court/Criminal Division on August 25.
Fifty-four-year-old Stephen Groat, who lists an address along Woodsong Terrace in Mountain Home, pled guilty to the violations, was put on probation for 36 months and his request to move out of state was approved.
Groat is alleged not to have reported to the Baxter County Sheriff’s office that he was working at a local business and that he had also not told the business owner he was a registered sex offender.
The owner said Groat had worked at the establishment since late June.
In addition, according to the probable cause affidavit, Groat is alleged to have social media accounts, both Snapchat and Instagram, that were not reported as required by law.
Groat was found guilty of criminal sexual assault on August 12, 1992, in Lake County, Illinois. He was accused of sneaking into a foster home and engaging in sexual contact with an 11-year-old female.
The victim told police that on some occasions, she would wake up to find herself tied to bedposts with chains or ropes.
She also said the sexual contact happened when she was drunk or passed out from drinking alcohol that Groat and a friend of his provided to her.
Groat was accused of engaging in sexual contact with the victim for approximately 12 months.
He is a Level 3 sex offender, meaning he is a high risk to re-offend.
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