Baxter County Sex Offender Arrested After Failing to Disclose Secret Social Media Accounts to Authorities

Baxter County deputies arrested Jesse Aaron Avant after a home visit revealed undisclosed Facebook and email accounts on a hidden cell phone.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 8:43 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KY3

Hidden Digital Presence Leads to Felony Arrest in Gamaliel

A routine compliance check in Baxter County escalated into a criminal arrest this week after authorities uncovered a collection of undisclosed social media accounts. Jesse Aaron Avant, a 31,year,old registered level two sex offender, was taken into custody on Thursday following a mandatory verification appointment with the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office. According to reports from the scene, Avant initially informed deputies that his only electronic possessions were a single cellular phone and a gaming console. However, subsequent investigative steps revealed a much larger digital footprint that had been intentionally withheld from state monitors.

Deceptive Statements During Mandatory Compliance Verification

The investigation began when Avant attended a scheduled meeting with deputies on March 26 to verify his registration details as required by Arkansas law. During this interview, Avant explicitly stated that he did not possess or utilize any email addresses or social media platforms. According to Deputy Tanner Anderson, suspicion arose when Avant claimed he had forgotten to bring his mobile device to the appointment. This lack of transparency prompted a follow,up home visit later that day by deputies and a probation officer from the Arkansas Community Corrections department to verify the offender’s claims.

Home Search Uncovers Active Facebook Profile and Undisclosed Tech

Upon arriving at Avant’s residence in Gamaliel, investigators conducted a thorough sweep of the premises and located the missing cellular device. A forensic review of the phone immediately identified an active Facebook account and several other social media applications that had never been documented in the Sheriff’s Office registration files. According to the arrest report, the discovery of these hidden accounts stands in direct violation of the legal requirements for registered offenders, who must provide authorities with all online identifiers and digital communication methods.