Sex offender arrested after misconduct near Independence School

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) – A registered sex offender is back behind bars after he was found inappropriately touching himself at an elementary school in Independence in front of children.

Records filed in Jackson County, Missouri District Court on Monday, October 28, it was reported that Clifford N. Wells, 43, of Independence, was charged with sexual assault following an incident at an elementary school.

Independence Police Department said that just after 2:55 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, officers were called to a nearby elementary school for reports of indecent exposure. The caller reported that a man, later identified as Wells, was touching himself on the south side of the building.

When first responders arrived, they said they found Wells unsuccessfully trying to hide his activities behind a propped pallet. He was also found to be in possession of glass pipes containing methamphetamine residue.

When Wells was arrested, investigators indicated that he testified that he was a registered sex offender. He was found to be a reckless offender, convicted of statutory sodomy against a 5 and 6 year old child.

When interviewed by law enforcement officials, they said Wells admitted to committing the crime, but claimed he did so because he was homeless and his judgment was impaired due to methamphetamine he had used earlier that day.

As of Thursday, October 31, Wells remains behind bars in Jackson County on $15,000 bail. The bond review hearing is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Wednesday, November 6th. No additional information has been disclosed.