A registered sex offender was arrested Wednesday after failing to tell authorities he no longer lives at the Stevens Motel in Ocala.
Derrick Alonzo Beard, 35, was convicted in Escambia County in 2005 for lewd or lascivious battery on a victim 12 to 15 years old. As a result, he’s required to register as a sex offender and report any change of address within 48 hours. On April 23, he reported he was living at the motel at 3231 S. Pine Ave., according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office report.
On May 30, a deputy responded to the registered address and was told Beard no longer lives there. As of Wednesday, Beard had not registered a new address in Florida, and another deputy went to look for him at his mother’s house on NW 1st Avenue. There was no answer when he repeatedly knocked on the front door and window, the report said.
The deputy then called Beard, who said living at the motel with his brother was not working out because his brother makes him leave when he has women over. Beard said his mother is in the hospital, that he visits her frequently, and he has been working handyman jobs. Beard said he was moving to another hotel that night, according to the report.
The manager of the Stevens Motel said Beard has not lived at the hotel for approximately a month and that he had spent a total of approximately five nights there since April 23. She said she hasn’t seen Beard in more than a month. Beard’s brother said he hasn’t stayed overnight in his room since last month, the report said.
In a second phone call, Beard told the deputy he has been staying at his mother’s residence during the day and then leaving. He gave varying stories on how long he was doing that and where he would go. He said he sometimes sneaks into his brother’s motel room when he isn’t there, according to the report.
Beard met the deputy later Wednesday at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. He said he’s been homeless since leaving the motel a month ago. He said he goes to his mother’s residence daily but can’t stay there because of her deed restrictions. Beard said he didn’t report his change of address because he was working on getting a permanent place, the report said.
Beard was charged with failing to report a name or residence change within 48 hours and failing to report vacating a residence within 48 hours. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he’s being held on $10,000 bond. He’ll appear in Marion County Court on July 23.