Mesa Man Pretending to Be Dead to Avoid Sex Offender Registry Caught by DeputiesSheriff Lamb, “Nice try, Benjamin. We found you. You’re not dead. We’re going to hold you accountable.”

Benjamin Hollins, 50, convicted as a sex offender in California over two decades ago, arrested in Arizona for failing to register and reoffending in 2018.

Authorities in Pinal County announced the arrest of a man who had resorted to faking his death in a bid to evade sex offender registration requirements. Identified as 50-year-old Benjamin Hollins, he had been previously convicted as a sex offender in California more than 20 years ago before relocating to Arizona in 2018, where he failed to fulfill his registration obligations.

Hollins, who was working as a behavioral health counselor, committed another offense by kidnapping and attempting to assault a 16-year-old client. Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb expressed disbelief at Hollins’ actions, noting that he should not have been free to perpetrate such crimes given his past conviction.

Following his arrest, it was revealed that Hollins had orchestrated a false report of his own death by allegedly jumping off the Roosevelt Bridge, a ruse that temporarily halted his requirement to register as a sex offender. However, diligent investigation by Chandler Police Department led to the discovery of his true whereabouts in Mesa, where he had assumed a new identity.

Authorities apprehended Hollins on Tuesday, highlighting the danger he posed as he had been living with a family containing children who were unaware of his criminal history. Sheriff Lamb emphasized the resolve of law enforcement in ensuring accountability for such deceptive tactics, declaring, “Nice try, Benjamin. We found you. You’re not dead. We’re going to hold you accountable.”