Mom Fights Off Man Who Snuck Into Daughter's Bed, Gets Him Arrested: Police

An Arizona mother managed to fight off a registered sex offender who broke into her home and snuck into her daughter's bedroom, according to police.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) said it first received an alert about a trespassing in progress on State 89 in Paulden at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday, August 17.

A YCSO spokesperson said in a news release shared that day, that 54-year-old registered sex offender Lloyd Beard, from Prescott, broke into the mother's home.

According to Arizona government statistics, the state had an estimated 14,192 registered sex offenders.

Beard is alleged to have snuck into the 12-year-old daughter's bed while she was sleeping and that he "began touching her face."

This happened as her mother and 16-year-old brother were sleeping nearby, according to the release.

The YCSO spokesperson added: "The daughter was able to wake her mother, who physically removed Beard from the residence when he refused to leave.

"She then confronted him in the yard where he was exposing himself and threatening to 'drop her'. Beard took off running, and mom and her teenage son chased him down to prevent him from escaping.

"When deputies arrived, Beard was laying on the ground with his pants down and had minor injuries from his struggle with the mother. He was medically treated on scene then transported to the hospital."

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States, nearly two out of three child victims are between the ages of 12 and 17.

RAINN also reported that perpetrators of sexual violence oftentimes know their victim and that out of every 1,000 of these perpetrators, 520 will be released while awaiting trial.

Beard has since been released from a nearby hospital and was later taken to the Yavapai County jail where he is waiting to be charged with numerous counts of aggravated assault, burglary second degree, criminal trespass first degree, indecent exposure, voyeurism and disorderly conduct.

Police said the mother's "quick action" saved her daughter from further trauma and that she "managed to help take a dangerous predator off the streets."

The YCSO revealed Lloyd is a level 3 sex offender, a tier for sex offenders who are considered to be at high risk of committing another sexual assault, and was registered to the YCSO last week.

According to the police news release, Sheriff David Rhodes said: "Violent sexual crimes against children are among the most heinous offenses I can think of.

"I am always as shocked as all of you at the capacity of these appalling offenders to prey on the vulnerable.

"These violent criminals must be removed from society, and we will always seek to prosecute them and fight for justice for their victims."

Newsweek has contacted the YCSO for comment.