Members of local church voice concerns about registered sex offender's involvement with youth activities

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Parishioners at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith are expressing alarm after learning that a registered sex offender may be serving as a volunteer in a capacity involving children.

The situation is compounded by details from his prior criminal history, including a 2014 guilty plea for failing to register as a sex offender, as well as allegations from a 2021 protection order filing.

Preston Lee Dubina, 48, is listed as a Level Two (Medium Risk) sex offender on the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry with his last verification date of August 29, 2025.

.According to registry details, Dubina was convicted on September 21, 2005, in Oklahoma of Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony. The incident is described as engaging in sexual contact with a 13-year-old female.

The conviction is equivalent to Arkansas Code 5-14-125 - Sexual Assault in the Second Degree.

A screenshot of Dubina's offender profile and a recent photo has circulated among concerned churchgoers. Sources indicate that Dubina has been volunteering in some capacity at the church, prompting fears that congregation members--particularly parents--have not been informed of his background.

One member told TIFS that Dubina has "direct contact with children" and provided photographic evidence picturing him with a group of young people. (We are not reproducing the photos here to protect the identity of the minors.)

Records show Dubina faced felony charges for failing to register as a sex offender. The case was filed on November 13, 2013, after an alleged failure to register between September 11, 2013, and October 11, 2013 .

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This conviction for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements adds to concerns about accountability, given his ongoing registration obligations.

Further concerns arise from a March 10, 2021, affidavit filed in Sebastian County for an Order of Protection. The petitioner alleged serious incidents involving Dubina.

.The petitioner claimed Dubina entered her residence without permission and went through her private messages. He became irritated after discovering communications with another person, entered her bedroom, demanded answers, grabbed her by the neck, threw her onto the bed, and got on top of her while threatening violence, including references to beating her.

Other allegations included him grabbing and throwing her dog against a wall, threatening to have her evicted, and making repeated threats to kill her and burn down her house with her inside.

She described drunk threats on St. Patrick's Day, in which he allegedly expressed that he wished he had killed her earlier because 'it would have made things easier'.

She referenced a May 7 surveillance video showing unauthorized entry through a crawl space connecting their duplexes, where he spotted and unplugged a camera while avoiding front-door sensors

. Additional claims involved threats of harm to a man she was seeing (and to his children) and breaking into that man's truck to obtain personal information.

The petitioner stated she had known Dubina for about 2½ years and moved next door to him in January 2021 to "calm the matter". However, she alleged the move only worsened the issues, with multiple prior threats to beat or kill her.

The filing requested an ex parte temporary order of protection and a final order, which sources indicate was granted

.These allegations, documented in a civil protection order context, did not result in reported criminal charges connected to the church. Nonetheless, they contribute to community unease given Dubina's prior conviction and current volunteer role.

Some concerns also stem from an incident at the Fort Smith Mayor's 4th of July Celebration, where one church member alleges Dubina made inappropriate statements about attendees under the age of sixteen and notified church officials at the time.R

In December 2024, Dubina filed a pro se petition to seal the records of his 2013-2014 failing-to-register case. A satisfaction of judgment was filed by the prosecuting attorney, and after a recusal and reassignment, a hearing was held on January 14, 2025, before Judge Candice Settle.

The state took no position, but sworn testimony was taken, and the court denied the petition on January 15, 2025. This recent denial keeps the case details publicly accessible.

Dubina also has as entensive record in Sequoyah County that resulted in court actions seventeen times between 2000 and 2994, including one case involving assault and domestic violence.

 Executive Pastor Will Guyton

In an email to a n email from Today in Fort Smith, Executive Pastor Will Guyton emphasized the church's commitment to child safety:

"Child safety is a non-negotiable priority at Grand Avenue Baptist Church. We maintain strict child protection policies and safeguards in all ministries. Our child protection policies are reviewed regularly and align with recognized best practices for church safety. As a matter of policy, we do not comment publicly on specific individuals. Any concerns are addressed through established procedures and, when appropriate, in cooperation with law enforcement. We remain committed to the safety of children in every ministry context."

The church is affiliated with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, which has adopted proposals in recent years (such as in 2022) to strengthen sexual abuse prevention and response across member churches, including improved safeguards and transparency.

Those who brought the matter to our attention say parishioners were not notified about Dubina's sex offender status, the 2014 conviction for failing to register, or the 2021 protection order allegations, despite his alleged involvement with children's activities or events.

Critics argue that transparency is essential in environments where volunteers interact with minors--especially given the nature of his child-related conviction, non-compliance history, and reported threats

.No formal charges or new incidents have been reported in connection with the church or in recent years.

Arkansas law provides public access to sex offender registries and many court records, and child protection advocates recommend thorough vetting and restrictions on roles for registered offenders in child-serving settings.

As of now, the church has not issued a public statement beyond the email response, and community members continue to seek clarity on volunteer vetting processes.

Anyone with concerns is encouraged to contact local authorities, the Crawford County or Sebastian County Circuit Clerk for public records (available via online inquiry or in-person requests), or the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry through the Arkansas Department of Public Safety.

The registry is publicly accessible online.