United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW HAVEN RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR FAILING
TO REGISTER WITH STATE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL HARRIS, 34, of New Haven, was arrested today by the United States Marshals Service on an indictment charging HARRIS with one count of failure to register with the state sex offender registry.

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), which was passed by Congress in 2006 as part of the Adam Walsh Act, provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States and seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs.  In part, SORNA requires registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.

The indictment alleges that, between October 7, 2010, and April 4, 2011, HARRIS was required by law to register under SORNA and failed to do so.

The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in New Haven yesterday and was ordered unsealed today by United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven during HARRIS’ initial appearance.  HARRIS has been ordered held without bond.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Henry K. Kopel.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov