REDDING: Sex offender arrested after officers find weapons at his residence

REDDING — A registered sex offender who was placed on probation last February after being convicted of using the internet to solicit sex with a minor was arrested again after officers found firearms at his residence, in violation of the terms of his probation.

Officers with the City of Redding Police Department’s Neighborhood Police Unit arrested Clifford Jay Markhart, 54, of Redding, after discovering the firearms while conducting a late evening probation check at his residence, Friday, Nov. 17.

NPU officers conducted the 10 p.m. search to determined if Markhart was in compliance with the terms of his probation, Redding Police Officer Nicholas Day explained after Markhart’s arrest.

Markhart was later booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of violating the terms of his probation and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Markhart was placed on probation after he was arrested last February during an undercover operation conducted by NPU officers.

During the operation, officers say Markhart used a Craigslist personal ad to solicit and make arrangements to meet a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl for “sexual activity,” According to Day. Markhart then attempted to meet with the girl, who in reality was an undercover NPU officer.

After his arrest, Markhart was later convicted and sentenced to serve seventy-five days in jail. He was then placed on probation and required to register as a sex offender.

An online jail records search revealed Markhart remains in custody and is being held without bail.

Anyone with information about this investigation or arrest is encouraged to contact Redding Police Officer Nicholas Day at (530) 776-0105. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-85179 and can remain anonymous.

 

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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.