Sex offender accused of 'inappropriate conversation'

Clinton Police are investigating allegations made by a woman that Stephen Lemons, who is the owner of D&S Sales on High Street and a convicted sex offender, had an “inappropriate conversation” with her 14-year-old son.

According to Police Chief Mark Laverdure, the woman’s son came home from D&S Sales, a store that specializes in bargain basement priced swords and knives, as well as Airsoft pellet guns and sunglasses, and told her about the conversation he had with Lemons.

“Apparently she allows her son to patronize the store,” Laverdure said. “Her son came home and told her about a conversation he had with Lemons that she felt was inappropriate.”

Laverdure said the conversation revolved around Lemons explaining to the boy that recent stories in the newspapers and on television about his criminal past were incorrect. At this time police have no reason to believe that there were any sexual advances made towards the teen.

“[Patrolman] Brian Coyne handles all these types of investigations for us and he does a great job,” Laverdure said. “Brian did not find that there were any solicitations or advances made towards the youth. I’m sure this investigation was handled thoroughly and if there was anything inappropriate in the conversation Brian would have found out about it.”

Lemons, a registered Level 3 sex offender, served time in prison after he was convicted for molesting a teenage boy at a store similar to D&S Sales that he operated in Florida. Lemons said the charges stem from a misunderstanding and he has hired a lawyer to have his Level 3 status removed. A Level 3 sex offender is the state’s classification that implies there is a high likelihood to re-offend.

Lemons was charged in 1997 for molesting three boys, ages 13, 15 and 16, at a booth he ran at the Oldsmar Flea Market in Florida. According to police reports, the 15-year-old was mentally challenged and Lemons performed oral sex on the boy at least five times.

Lemons claims he caught the boy molesting a young girl in his store and threw the boy up against the wall, grabbed the boy’s privates and threatened to harm him if he found him near the girl again.

Lemons was ultimately convicted for sexually assaulting the 15-year-old and was sentenced to serve five years concurrently with a five-year sentence for a felony with a gun or concealed weapon charge.

Lemons opened D&S Sales late last year and police have already had several issues with merchandise being sold to young children. Police spoke with Lemons after two Clinton Middle School students were suspended when they brought knives disguised as pens to school that were purchased at D&S.

Laverdure said Lemons is not breaking any laws by opening a business that caters to children, but police have been closely monitoring the situation.

“We are keeping a close eye on the store, but unless he breaks the law, which he hasn’t done yet, there is not a lot that we can do,” Laverdure said.