February 20th, 2026 Local News
Iron Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A months-long investigation has resulted in the arrest of a registered sex offender in Iron County on charges related to Halloween restrictions and registration violations.
According to authorities, on November 13, 2025, Ironton Police Chief Lucas Anderson conducted an investigation at Elevate Fitness, located at 470 South Main Street in Ironton, after receiving concerns about a registered sex offender frequenting the facility. The investigation determined that Kevin Michael Bentley, a registered sex offender in Iron County, was present at the fitness center on October 31, 2025, between 4:14 p.m. and 5:44 p.m.
Under Missouri law, registered sex offenders are required to remain inside their residence between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Halloween unless they have just cause. Investigators noted that a Halloween event was taking place nearby at the time, with numerous children present in the surrounding area.
Surveillance footage obtained during the investigation confirmed Bentley’s presence at the fitness center during restricted hours. Chief Anderson also discovered that Bentley was operating a vehicle that was not listed on his sex offender registration. Missouri law requires registered sex offenders to report all vehicles they operate, and failure to do so constitutes a violation. Based on the findings, an arrest warrant was requested and later issued for Bentley. He was charged with failure to register as a sex offender, a Class E felony, and failure to comply with Halloween-related restrictions for sex offenders, a Class A misdemeanor.
On February 19, 2026, Bentley was taken into custody on the charges. He remains held at the Iron County Jail without bond and is awaiting formal arraignment.