A 55-year-old Hutchinson man is jailed on a 52-thousand, 500-dollar bond after he was arrested by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office for two counts of violation of the sex offender registration act.

It was about 3:30 p-m, when Steven R. Peterman was arrested in the parking lot of the Hutchinson Mall by detectives with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest is the result of 2-week investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office.

It’s alleged that Peterman was engaged in conversations via cellular telephone with detectives whom he believed to be an underage female. Peterman went to the mall to pick up the female with the intentions of assisting her in running away from home. Peterman was under surveillance the entire time he was in the parking lot, so no citizens were in danger of him.

Peterman was arrested on additional charges electronic solicitation of a child, solicitation of a child, and attempted indecent liberties with a child.

Sheriff Officials discovered that he had a cell phone used for calls, text messages and internet access which also didn’t register with the sheriff’s office within 3-days of getting the phone which is also required. He also allegedly created an internet site affiliation which he also didn’t report. He apparently was using these devices to make contact with what he thought was young female victim.

He allegedly admitted to setting up the website two weeks prior to the discovery by a Sheriff Department investigator.

He was also arrested for violating the conditions of his parole. He had served time for two counts of rape and electronic solicitation of a child from a case from 2001. But, he also has convictions for three counts of theft, perjury and issuing a worthless check. Those case go back to 1979 and 1980.

Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen set another hearing on these matters for February 19.