BEDFORD – Lawrence County Police Department deputies arrested a Bedford man after he failed to register as a sex offender.
Police arrested 57-year-old Richie Austin on a charge of failure to register as a sex offender and failure to possess the proper identification.
Austin was convicted of sexual battery on September 15, 2004. He was classified as a sex offender for life and was ordered to register with the Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry.
Austin listed his address in the 3600 block of Coveyville Road in Heltonville.
On May 24, 2023, Sgt. Michael Ramos went to the last residence Austin had listed per the terms of his conviction on Coveyville Road. Austin was not there—however, a vehicle registered to Austin was parked on the property.
Sgt. Ramos returned on May 28, 2023, and was told by the campground property owner that Austin had not lived there since May 1, 2023.
Sgt. Ramos ran Austin’s driver’s license, and the address was returned to the first block of Sowders Lane in Bedford.
Per state law, Austin must keep his address current on his Indiana driver’s license or identification card. Austin acknowledged these requirements when he signed his annual Sex and Violent Offender Registration form.
This is not the first time Austin has failed to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty to the charge on January 20, 2013.
The information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office, and a warrant was issued for Austin’s arrest.
