Registered sex offender arrested for second time in one week

Posted: Mar 18, 2010 10:44 PM by Danielle Lerner
Updated: Mar 18, 2010 10:44 PM

A registered sex offender is behind bars, accused of annoying a child under 18. Fifty-year-old Billy Gene Mannon was arrested at his home in Templeton Wednesday night.

This comes after the mother of two young girls told deputies that Mannon had stared at her daughters and possibly followed one of them in a car.

Deputies posted notices about Mannon throughout the community after he was arrested for possessing meth on March 10.

He was arrested near the intersection of Moss Lane and El Pomar Road. That is just up the road from Templeton High School and along the practice route for the girls cross country team.

The 50-year-old is registered as a sex offender for, "oral copulation by force or violence."

Some parents say he should not have been near the high school in the first place. "I don't think you should ever be on the streets again to offend, that's it, no second chance," said Kimberly Hughes, a mother of three.

Because of Mannon's sex offender status deputies did not want to take any chances after last week's arrest. They alerted the high school and passed out fliers in the downtown area.

"I'm glad they circulated pictures of him to the track team and people who may have had contact with him or been in his vicinity ," said Margo Mosher, who has two children attending Templeton High School.

That may be what lead to Wednesday night's arrest. A woman has come forward accusing Mannon of staring at her two daughters and possibly following one of them in a car.

He was booked into County Jail and parents say they hope he stays there."As long as he's not on our campus or lingering around near the school, you know let law enforcement handle it is the best we can do really," said Mosher.

Officials with the Templeton School District say only students and parents affiliated with the high school cross country team were notified about Mannon's arrest.

He remains behind bars on $35,000 bail.