BEDFORD, IN — A Heltonville man classified as a “sexually violent predator” is facing a new felony charge after allegedly failing to report his employment status to local authorities.
Joshua A. Jackson, 41, of State Road 58 E, has been charged with failure to register, a Level 6 Felony, following an investigation by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed on January 22, 2026, Jackson is required by law to register for life as a result of a 2015 conviction in Lawrence County. Due to his classification as a “Sexually Violent Predator,” he must check in with the Sex or Violent Offender Registry (SVOR) coordinator every 90 days and immediately report any changes to his residency or employment.
Under Indiana law, offenders are required to register any changes in employment within 72 hours.
The investigation began after SVOR Coordinator Alissa Shoults flagged a discrepancy in Jackson’s records. On January 6, 2026, Jackson met with Shoults for his mandatory 90-day and annual registration. At that time, he updated his status to “unemployed,” noting that he had applied for a position at GKN Sinter Metals in Salem but had not yet been hired.
However, the Sheriff’s Office later received a tip from another individual on the registry stating that Jackson was, in fact, working at the Salem facility.
On January 20, investigators contacted GKN Sinter Metals and a temporary staffing agency known as “SMX.” Representatives from both companies allegedly confirmed that Jackson had been employed at the facility since January 9, 2026.
Despite starting the job nearly two weeks prior, Jackson had not contacted the Sheriff’s Office to update his registry information as of January 22.
Chief Deputy Brandon Blackwell, who authored the affidavit, requested that a warrant be issued for Jackson’s arrest. He was detained on February 7th.
A Level 6 Felony in Indiana carries a potential sentence of six months to two and a half years in prison.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
