PAINTSVILLE, Ky. — What began as an investigation into the theft of bicycles resulted in a Paintsville sex offender being arrested for failing to maintain his registration requirements.

Paintsville Police were called Sunday to a home on Second Street over a report that two bicycles had been stolen the previous evening. The homeowner was able to provide footage allegedly showing Jessie Lee Ward, 48, walking into the back yard and taking two bicycles worth a combined $500.

Police located Ward at his workplace and cited him for misdemeanor theft. He was able to return one of the bicycles at that time. He said another person had the other bike, but he would retrieve it and take it back to the owners.

Afterwards, police decided to check into sex offender status, because two young girls lived at the home where the theft occurred. They learned that Ward was not compliant with his registration requirements, after he pleaded guilty to second-degree rape of a 12-year-old in 2006. He received a 10-year sentence in that case.

Ward was found riding a bicycle on Sixth Street later that day and arrested him for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. He reportedly told police that he realized he had fallen out of compliance, but said he had mailed in paperwork to correct the issue.

Because he has previously been arrested for the same charge, Ward now faces 5-to-10 years in prison if he is convicted.