Sex offender accused of performing sexual act in barber's chair at Little Rock shop

A registered sex offender working at a Little Rock barber shop pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges that he performed a sexual act in front of the shop's clients, including young children.

Police received a call April 15 from the owner of Master Styles on West 12th Street in Little Rock, who reported that Garland Vanderbilt, an employee at the shop, had been filmed performing the act in his barber's chair, according the police report.

A video of the incident captured by someone in the shop "clearly shows a kid sitting in a chair in front of [the] man," officer Antwoine Hudson wrote in the report.

The owner told police that three girls were in the shop at the time, including a 6-year-old.

Vanderbilt, 41, was later arrested at his home April 26 and charged with sexual indecency with a child and indecent exposure.

At his first appearance in Little Rock District Court on Tuesday, Vanderbilt pleaded innocent and was told by District Court Judge Alice Lightle that his case would be sent to circuit court.

Afterward, Vanderbilt left court on his own, declining to comment about his case.

Vanderbilt is listed as a "high-risk offender" in the state's sex offender registry. Court records show that he was convicted of sexual indecency with a child in 2006.

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