Lang
9/23/20
A registered sex offender from Indiana faces charges that he’s been living near the Coralville Reservoir without notifying the state of Iowa.
74-year-old Frank Shell, who is registered as a sex offender in Terre Haute, Indiana, was pulled over by the Iowa State Patrol on September 14th on Interstate 380 near the Johnson/Linn County line. The car’s registration and Shell’s driver’s license were both out of Indiana. The officer soon learned that Shell is registered as a sex offender in Indiana after a conviction in 2012 for solicitation of a minor.
It was also learned that Shell is currently residing on Surf Drive, near the Coralville Reservoir, and is currently employed in Iowa.
A check with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office showed that as of September 16th Shell had not registered as a sex offender in Iowa. A follow-up check on Tuesday yielded the same results.
A check with Indiana officials determined that Shell must register as a sex offender for ten years following his conviction. Under Iowa law, he was required to register with his local sheriff’s office within five days of moving to the state.
Shell was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 3pm Tuesday and charged with a Sex Offender Registry Violation. If convicted, he faces a maximum of two years in jail.