By Alan Sorensen
A man convicted of sexual assault in Arkansas two years ago appears to be headed back to Arkansas for failing to register as a sex offender upon his arrival here.
Clifton L. Phillips, 26, Havre, pleaded guilty Nov. 17 in 12th Judicial District Court to failing to register as a sexual offender upon his arrival in Hill County. Phillips was convicted Aug. 21, 1997 in Arkansas to first degree sexual assault and sentenced to 60 months in prison. Subsequent to his release, Phillips moved to Montana and resided for a time in Hays before coming to Havre in May or early June 1999.
Havre police interrogated Phillips on an allegation that he had sexual intercourse without consent in Havre on Sept. 2, 1999. They learned that he had failed to register as a sex offender in Havre within the mandated 10 days of his arrival three months earlier and was still not registered when questioned.
Phillips was arrested and jailed pending extradition to Arkansas for violating conditions of his parole.
Upon the Nov. 17 admission, District Court Judge John Warner gave the state of Arkansas 30 days in which to pick up Phillips and take him back to Arkansas.
