By Kyle Troutman ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Two registered sex offenders have been charged with being physically present or loitering within 500 feet of a park.

Joseph Chew, born 1983, of Miller, and Michael Vanwinkle, born 1953, of Cassville, are each facing the felony charge relating to separate incidents on June 16 and June 25.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper C. Byron, at about 4:14 p.m. on June 16, Byron was on general patrol at Roaring River State Park and conducted a records check on a vehicle in the Zone 1 day use area.

Records showed the vehicle was registered to a convicted sex offender, and Bryon located the individual, identified as Chew, allegedly in the day use area and swimming area where about 20 children and 15 adults were recreating.

When the vehicle later drove by Byron’s patrol vehicle, he confirmed Chew was in the passenger seat and initiated a traffic stop near the CCC Lodge.

Chew said he did not have identification but provided his personal information, and Byron informed him the reason for the contact was because he was not allowed in a state park as a convicted sex offender with a public park restriction.

Chew allegedly confirmed he was a registered sex offender with a parks restric- tion, stating he was told by another law enforcement officer last year that he was allowed in state parks.

Bryon confirmed Chew’s status as a sex offender, convicted of second- degree child molestation in November 2004 in Crawford County with a 14-year-old female victim.

“It should be noted that Roaring River State Park has multiple large brown signs stating the entrances to the park,” Bryon said in his statement. “There are several blue boundary lines delineating the boundary of the state park. There are two playgrounds in the park.”

At about 4:29 p.m., Chew was placed under arrest for the loitering charge, then transported to the Barry County jail, where he was booked and released with charges pending.

Barry County Prosecutor Amy Boxx filed the charge against Chew on June 23, issuing a criminal summons for an initial appearance on July 24 at 8:30 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke.

According to another probable cause statement filed by Det. Abby Parsons, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, on the morning of June 25, she observed Vanwinkle asleep in his vehicle located at the Cassville City Park.

Parsons said Vanwinkle is a registered sex offender and prohibited from being present or loitering at any park. He was convicted of prohibited sexual conduct, indecency with a child sexual contact and possession of child pornography in 20011 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Parsons said Vanwinkle was transported to the Barry County jail on a 24-hour hold, pending charges.

Vanwinkle’s is being held in the Barry County jail with a cash-only bond of $10,000.