Sex Offender Nabbed in North Carolina

A convicted sex offender from Stephens County has been arrested in North Carolina.

Anthony Mike Lewallen was arrested last week in Fayetteville, North Carolina for failure to register as a sex offender. Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley tells WNEG news how the arrest was made. “July 30th my office received an anonymous tip through OFFENDER WATCH, a newly acquired program that helps us track sex offenders. This is a trend (Sex Offender Watch) that Sheriff’s Offices across the United States are going to. It helps us track sex offenders not only locally, but if they abscond the county, such as Mike Lewallen, age 51 who absconded back in May, 2013.”

Lewallen has been absconded from Stephens County when he did not report to the Sheriff’s office for his required annual registration. Sheriff Shirley said the tip stated that Lewallen may possibly be working for a company in Fayetteville, North Carolina under the name of William Burnett. Shirley said after receiving the tip they were able to respond quickly. “The anonymous tip gave us a lot of information, within minutes after my investigator notified the agency in North Carolina and the U.S. Marshall arrested him. He is being detained in Fayetteville.”

Lewallen is currently being held in North Carolina where he faces charges there for failure to register as a sex offender, and sex offender residence violation. His bond is set at $25,000. Sheriff Shirley went on to say that once Lewallen answers for his charges in North Carolina, he will be brought back to Stephens County to face the charges here that include failure to register as a sex offender, probation violation, and state court bench warrants. Shirley added that this is a wonderful example of agencies working together and applying new technology to take a sex offender off of our streets.