Stoddard County sex offender charged with living too close to day care

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Bloomfield man was arrested Wednesday morning on a warrant charging him with being a convicted sexual offender living too close to a day care facility.

Gerald Barker, 38, was arrested just after 9 a.m. at his residence by Bloomfield police chief Cheryl Malone. He was booked at the Stoddard County Jail, where he was being held on $7,500 bond.

Barker had been charged with the felony of being a sex offender residing within 1,000 feet of a child care facility Tuesday by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver.

The charge stems from an investigation by the Bloomfield Police Department, which began Sunday during a traffic stop in the 500 block of South Highway 25.

According to her probable cause statement, upon requesting operator's information, Malone learned Barker was a registered sex offender.

"Mr. Barker informed me he resided" in the 600 block of Allie Street, which is about 25 feet from Barnyard Buddies Preschool Center, owned by Chanda Jones, Malone said.

Jones, Malone said, opened the center in September. It is located in the 600 block of North Prairie Street. "Mr. Barker did not reside at this residence at that time," Malone said. When Malone asked Barker "about this, he stated he was not a predator; he had sex [about 10 years ago] with a 15-year-old hooker, not a baby or anything."

Barker, Malone said, was convicted of statutory rape in 2000. The conviction reportedly is out of Florida.

"He is required to register as a sex offender with law enforcement and has maintained his registration," Malone said in her report. "He lives within 1,000 feet of a child care facility and is in violation of Megan's Law."

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield, MO