2 sex offenders arrested at Dandridge church construction site

DANDRIDGE (WATE) - A tip led to arrests and charges Friday for two convicted Tennessee sex offenders working at a church construction site in Dandridge.

Sheriff G.W. "Bud" McCoig got a tip Friday morning that a sex offender was working construction at First Baptist Church on Highway 92. The church is the biggest one in Dandridge, where a daycare and preschool is run on-site. At least 100 children are on the property on any weekday, according to staff.

He found Ricky Dean Moore, 49, of Edgewood Drive in Knoxville, and Michael David Sadler, 51, of Valley View in Knoxville, both working there.

Moore was convicted in 1995 of child rape, attempted child rape and sexual exportation of a minor. Sadler was convicted of sexual battery in 2000.

The men were helping display a large sign in front of the church that said "Shame on Pastor Brown."

"They showed up in February and have been here Monday through Friday everyday since then," explained Pastor Bob Brown, whose name is on the sign. He said the church is undergoing a renovation, and somehow his name was dragged into a labor dispute between a subcontractor and the company that hired Moore and Sadler.

"They hired them and paid them minimum wage to hold the sign," said Brown, telling us how he held no grudges against the two men at the time. He said the pair became a common sight on the property.

"I'd wave at them coming into work. I've taken food and water to them. We had a good relationship with them, never knowing they were convicted sex offenders," Brown said.

The church has a daycare and, by law, a sex offender cannot be within 1,000 feet of a daycare. The men were arrested for violating the sex offender registration law.

Both were working for Mid South Carpenters Regional Council.

See the rest here:
2 sex offenders arrested at Dandridge church construction site