Fulton County Sheriff Deputies along with probation and parole officers arrived at a residence on 6th Street in Mammoth Spring after receiving information that Matthew Brinkley, age 25, an absconder and registered level two sex offender, was staying.

Brinkley allegedly cut off his GPS ankle monitoring device and disposed of it near the Mammoth Spring State Park.

Authorities say Brinkley was registered the address he was living at, which is required by law.

Officers spoke to Brinkley’s wife, identified as Nicole Travis, at the door. She stated that Brinkley did not live at the residence and denied knowing where he resided.

Officers entered the residence and found Brinkley in a bedroom, they also discovered that three young children were in the residence along with Brinkley and Travis.

A search of the room where Brinkley was located revealed a 9mm firearm hidden behind the bed along with drug paraphernalia, digital scales, multiple smoking devices with burned residue inside, and several pills.

Brinkley admitted the children had resided in the residence with him for over a month, and the drugs and other paraphernalia had been there a week.

He then told officers that he would fail a drug test.

Brinkley is charged with felony possession of firearms by certain persons, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, felony criminal mischief, three felony counts for endangering the welfare of a minor, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brinkley’s wife, Nicole Travis, age 38, is charged with felony hindering apprehension or prosecuting, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, three felony counts for endangering the welfare of a minor, and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia.