Jackson County Man Charged With Failing To Register As Sex Offender

On September 4, 2013, Willie Joe Strayhorn, a/k/a “Jo Jo,” 47, of Murphysboro, was indicted in a one-count indictment charging Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

The offense occurred between November 1, 2010, and September 4, 2013, in Jackson County. Strayhorn, who was arrested in Tennessee, made his initial appearance in federal court in Benton, on January 14, 2014. The offense carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by a term of supervised release from 5 years to life, and a fine of $250,000. Strayhorn is currently being held without bond pending a March 17, 2014, jury trial.

Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, and serves as the nation’s primary fugitive hunting organization. In addition, the U.S. Marshals have three principal responsibilities under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act: (1) to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities in the location and apprehension of non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders; (2) to investigate violations of the Act for federal prosecution; and (3) to assist in the identification and location of sex offenders relocated as a result of a major disaster. The Murphysboro Police Department and the Dyersburg, Tennessee, Police Department also assisted in the investigation.

The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.