NEWPORT-In two unrelated cases, two sex offenders, one from Florida and one from Minnesota, were recently arrested in Newport for failing to register as sex offenders in those states, the Cocke County Sheriff's Office reported.

Matthew Alexander Richard Landis, 32, said he had been in the Newport area since Feb. 21, at Bryant Town Projects, but had not registered locally as a sex offender, as is required.

Landis was a passenger in a traffic stop. When asked for ID, he advised he didn't have any, and gave to false names, then later at the Cocke County Jail officers found his ID in his sock. 

For more details, please see the Tuesday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.