Law enforcement says a man who registered as a sex offender living in Alva was actually staying most of the time in Cherokee.

Court papers show Woods County Undersheriff Keith Dale contacted Cherokee Police Chief Ryan McNeil on Jan. 13. Dale advised him about a possible unregistered sex offender residing in Cherokee in the 400 block of South Kansas. The suspect, Tyler Wade Holcom, was believed to be residing with Catelyn Leigh Powell and Powell’s minor children.

Dale explained he had been investigating Holcom for being in violation of the sex offender registration statutes after noticing Holcom was not staying consistently at his registered address in Alva. After checks at various times of the day and night and not seeing Holcom’s vehicle at the residence, Dale stated he spoke to the apartment owner. She said she’d seen Holcom’s pickup parked at the complex once since Jan. 3.

Dale said on Jan. 13 he saw Holcom’s vehicle parked outside the apartments and was able to talk to Holcom. Dale said during the conversation, Holcom said he was staying with Powell in Cherokee but he was trying to stay home in Alva more. Dale used online maps to determine the Cherokee address is 694 feet from the Cherokee High School and approximately 1,961 feet from the Cherokee Elementary School.

McNeil was familiar with Powell, having made numerous attempts to contact her on an unrelated investigation. He states he had observed a 2007 Chevy Canyon pickup parked in the driveway of the residence. He had run the license plate and found the listed owners were Donna May and Clyde Holcom. This occurred between Nov. 12, 2018, and the date Dale contacted him. McNeil also states in his affidavit that he observed the pickup at the Powell residence during various times of the day and night between Jan. 16 and Jan. 17.

On Jan. 29 Tyler Wade Holcom, 38, of Alva, was charged in Alfalfa County with two felonies: sex offender living within 2, 000 feet of a school and failure to register as a sex offender. The first charge carries a penalty of a fine up to $3,000 and/or one to three years in prison. The second is punishable by imprisonment of not more than five years and/or a fine not to exceed $5,000.

Holcom has posted bond, which was set at $20,000. His next court appearance is March 6.