Sex Offender was Victim of Deadly Clermont Accident

The investigation into a deadly weekend accident in Clermont continues, after it was learned that the driver was a convicted sex offender, with a five year old child as his passenger.

The accident happened at around 5:30pm Sunday on Highway 18; a car driven by 38 year old James Tackett of Clermont went out of control and slammed into Resale Therapy, a local business. The crash did extensive damage to the building, and killed Tackett; authorities say alcohol may have been a factor.

Emergency workers removed a 5 year old girl from the back seat of the car and took her to a local hospital for treatment.

A subsequent investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff determined that Tackett was a convicted sex offender, who had failed to register with the local sheriff's department.

Tackett had been living with the girl's mother in Clermont. Authorities determined that his girlfriend, identified as 27 year old Hilary Upton, had prior knowledge that Tackett was required to register as a sex offender; she also permitted custody and control of her daughter to him.

As a result of that investigation, on Monday Upton was charged with child endangerment, and will appear in court at a later date.

Because other children were living in the home, the Department of Human Services has been called in to investigate Upton.