Bella Vista Man Gets Probation

— A Level 3 sex offender was placed on four years of state supervised probation in connection with being on Bentonville School District grounds last year.

Aaron Paul Adams, 40, of Bella Vista previously pleaded guilty to five counts of registered offender prohibited from entering upon a school campus, a Class D felony. He could have been sentenced up to six years in prison on each count.

Adams’ guilty plea was without the benefit of a plea agreement, so Adams’ punishment was up to Circuit Judge Jon Comstock on Wednesday afternoon.

Chris DeWitt, Bentonville School District transportation director, contacted Bella Vista police in September 2011 concerning a registered sex offender, later identified as Adams, being in his office with the mother of two children, according to court documents.

DeWitt told police Adams was the woman’s boyfriend, and the woman was the legal guardian of a student at R.E. Baker Elementary School and a student at Old High Middle School.

A bus driver saw Adams and the woman walk into DeWitt’s office. The bus driver informed DeWitt he recognized Adams from a sex offender notification given when Adams moved into the bus driver’s neighborhood, according to an affidavit. DeWitt said he also was aware Adams had been at Sugar Creek Elementary School.

Baker Principal Amanda Kelly reported to police that Adams was on school grounds on Dec. 14, 2011, according to court documents.

Comstock ordered Adams placed on probation for four years and pay $1,420 in court costs.

Adams was convicted of two counts of indecent exposure in California in 2007, according to court documents. Adams exposed himself to an 8-year-old girl on two occasions, according to court documents.

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