A repeated sex offender that failed to register received 25 years in prison in district court Tuesday.
In October 2024, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons assigned a detective exclusively to monitor registered sex offenders. The detective’s primary responsibilities include conducting compliance checks, ensuring offenders register as required by court order, and maintaining accurate and up-to-date records in the database.
Lyons has emphasized that following rules is a basic principle taught from childhood. The regulations governing sex offenders are serious and must be strictly enforced. When offenders are found to be out of compliance, the detective submits reports and appropriate charges are filed through the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
In November 2025, Detective Jessica Stanton initiated an investigation into Rayford Ellis, 55, whose victims were six years old at the time of the offense. During the investigation, Stanton discovered Ellis had failed to complete his required annual 2024 registration verification with the sheriff’s office. A compliance check was conducted at his listed residence, but no contact was made. Further investigation revealed that Ellis had previously been convicted in Liberty County for the same offense. A warrant was subsequently issued, and Ellis was later arrested in Cleveland, Texas.
On Monday, a jury trial was held in the 411th District Court before Judge John Wells. The jury found Ellis guilty of failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements the next day. Following a sentence hearing, Wells sentenced Ellis to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The sheriff stated that the verdict and sentence send a strong message that sex offenders will be held accountable for failing to follow registration requirements.
