A 50-year-old Missouri man, required to register as a Tier 3 sex offender for life, is accused of moving to Baxter County, Arkansas, and failing to notify authorities in either state. Brandon Lee Oxford, convicted of first-degree child molestation in Barry County, Missouri, appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court on October 12. He pleaded not guilty to charges tied to non-compliance with sex offender registration rules. Oxford was ordered to reappear in court on November 16.
Authorities say Oxford moved to Mountain Home approximately two months before a compliance check uncovered the relocation. According to the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, which contacted Baxter County officials on September 29, Oxford had falsely claimed during an earlier update that he was still residing with his brother in Missouri. Law enforcement later obtained evidence indicating he had been living full-time in Mountain Home with his girlfriend.
Oxford was reportedly living in a tent on a property along Inwood Drive when a Baxter County deputy managing the sex offender registry visited the address. During the visit, Oxford allegedly admitted to having lived at the location for two months without registering, initially saying he intended to register later that day. He offered conflicting timelines about how long he had been at the new address before ultimately acknowledging the two-month duration, according to investigators.
Deputies also discovered multiple firearms near the tent during the visit. As a convicted felon, Oxford is prohibited from possessing or being near weapons. He reportedly told deputies the firearms belonged to his girlfriend’s brother. Additionally, authorities found a marijuana smoking pipe in Oxford’s pocket.
Oxford faces several charges, including failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements, being a felon in possession of weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia, and being a habitual offender. Tier 3 sex offenders, such as Oxford, are considered a high risk for reoffending and are required to update their registration regularly and notify authorities of any change in residence.