Sex offender check leads to three arrested

SCOTTSBURG, Ind (WISH) - Three people were arrested Wednesday afternoon when Indiana State Police officers conducted a sex offender registry check.

Police went to an apartment in the 200 block North Main Street looking for James E. Mullins, 32, of Scottsburg, after he failed to register as a sex offender. Officers found numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia in the residence, an Indiana State Police release said.

Mullins, Robert Northern, 37, Diane Sturgeon, 29, both of Scottsburg, were arrested and taken to the Scott County Jail.

Mullins was charged with visiting a common nuisance, a Class A misdemeanor and failing to register as a sex offender, a Class D felony. Sturgeon was charged with maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony; possession of paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor and possession of a hypodermic needle, a Class D felony. Northern was charged with visiting a common nuisance, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor and probation violation.