Published: December 29, 2008 09:48 pm         

Sex offender arrested again

A recently released sex offender was arrested again last week after authorities said he admitted to investigators he sexually abused a 5-year-old boy in 2003.

Steven Maxwell Gooden, 33, was arrested Dec. 24 and booked into the Garfield County Detention Facility on a complaint of sodomy.

Good was convicted in 2005 after he admitted to authorities in February 2005 he forced a 7-year-old girl to perform oral sex on him during the summer of 2003 with the promise of a Sprite. He pleaded guilty to a felony count of forcible sodomy in July 2005 and was sentenced three months later.

He was sentenced to serve a 10-year sentence, with the balance suspended following completion of a sex offender treatment program, as well as 10 years probation.

According to Oklahoma Department of Corrections records, Gooden was released March 19.

On April 16, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Payne County Child Protective Services in reference to a possible case of child sex abuse that occurred in Garfield County five years ago. The victim, now 9, lives in Stillwater. Gooden resides in Perry.

Gooden had admitted during a counseling session he had committed sodomy against another child, according to the sheriff’s office. During an interview with Deputy Shawna Cornish Christmas Eve, Gooden admitted to the crime again, according to the sheriff’s office.

Cornish said the investigation is complete and has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office. According to online court records, no new charges have been filed against Gooden.

He remains in custody of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office in lieu of $150,000 bond. Gooden will appear before a judge Friday morning.