YUMA, Arizona — The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has issued a public notification regarding the relocation of Barry Wilmoth, a Level 2 sex offender, to 11338 S. Elena Drive in Yuma, Arizona. The notification was made in compliance with Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 13-3825, the Community Notification on Sex Offenders Law, which requires law enforcement to inform the public when certain sex offenders move into the area.
Wilmoth, 74, is classified as a Level 2 sex offender, indicating an intermediate risk to the community. He is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, with gray hair and hazel eyes. The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that Wilmoth is not currently wanted by law enforcement but is required to register as a sex offender due to prior convictions.
The Yuma County sex offender relocation notification follows Wilmoth’s extensive criminal history. On August 1, 1980, he was convicted of rape in the first degree in Benton County Superior Court in Kennewick, Washington. The victim was an adult female. Wilmoth was sentenced to 20 years but was paroled after serving three years. He has since faced additional legal issues, including a 2011 conviction for failing to register as a sex offender in Davidson County, Tennessee, and a 2024 guilty plea for failing to update his address in Yuma County Superior Court. He is currently serving 36 months of probation under Yuma County Adult Probation.
“This notification is not meant to incite fear but to inform the community,” said Tania Pavlak, Public Affairs Specialist for the YCSO. “An informed community is a safer community. However, harassment or vigilantism against this individual will not be tolerated.”
The YCSO reminded residents that sex offenders are constitutionally permitted to live where they choose unless restricted by court order. The department also encouraged the public to utilize the OffenderWatch program, a free service that provides email alerts and information about registered sex offenders in the area.
The Yuma County sex offender relocation highlights the importance of community awareness under Arizona sex offender laws. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or criminal activity involving Wilmoth or other offenders to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 783-4427.
For more information or to register for OffenderWatch alerts, visit the YCSO OffenderWatch page.
Sources: Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Revised Statutes.
