A sex offender in Summerfield was arrested at his home Sunday for not reporting two Facebook accounts he created for an “investigation” into his ex-wife.
Joshua Matthew Stroud, 43, was convicted of lewd or lascivious battery with victim 12-15 years old in Marion County on Oct. 19, 2007, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. His conviction required him to register as a sex offender, which he did Aug. 1, 2016. His most recent registration form was completed on June 12, where he acknowledged that he must report any internet identifiers.
However, on July 8, Stroud’s ex-wife contacted the MCSO about a possible violation on Facebook. She had seen a profile using the name of “Waylon Bronson” in the “people you may know section.” This person had only one friend, and when she clicked on the picture, she saw it was Stroud. On July 11, she found another profile of his with the name “Joshua Strizzle,” the report said.
The IP addresses of both accounts went back to Stroud and his phone number. On Aug. 6, a deputy used a warrant to take Stroud’s phone. During this, he stated he was doing an investigation of his own on his ex-wife due to domestic issues, the report said.
He explained that if he created an account but deleted it within the 48-hour reporting period, he did not have to report it. He was told this was not true, and he looked defeated. He told law enforcement to let him know if they found something. Through the phone, the detective saw a large amount of activity on the “Joshua Strizzle” account and some on the “Wayon Bronson” account, the report said.
Stroud was ultimately arrested Sunday evening on charge of sex offender violation (fail to register internet identifiers). He was transported to Marion County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
He was also arrested in July 2023 with drugs and ammunition and in December 2020 for attacking a lady friend at an intersection.