Sex Offender Charged for Failing to Update Newport Address

NEWPORT, RI—Police arrested Keith J. Filkins, 38, of Newport, at 11:11 a.m. on April 17 at his Howard Street home. He was charged with a felony for failing to report his new address, police said. Filkins is a registered sex offender due to a conviction for second-degree child molestation. He had been living on Leal Terrace, but on April 14 police received information he had moved out.

According to the arrest report, questions about his whereabouts surfaced because his wife requested a rent reduction. She told her landlord the reason was she and Filkins were divorcing. He allegedly had moved out, she told the landlord. Police interviewed the landlord and the ex-wife and surmised Filkins had moved to Howard Street. He had been living there six or seven months but had not notified authorities about his address change, police allege.

Registered sex offenders are required to notify local police about their current address.