March 19, 2024

Registered sex offender turned away at library

A Newton man is charged with violating the sex offender registry after he went to the Newton Public Library Thursday.

Timmy L. Sholley, 44, was flagged in the library's system as a sexual offender when he presented his library card. Employees contacted the Newton Police Department and told Sholley he could not use the library. He was instructed to wait outside until the police arrived, but left before any officers were at the library.

He was arrested after attending a meeting at 4:15 p.m. Friday at the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

Sholley was convicted on two counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor in January 2001. He was not to be on library property because it is an exclusion zone and did not have permission from the library director.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com