Robert Albert Mitchell, 41, of Blackfoot, Id., was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boise to 12 months plus one day in prison for failing to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Dee V. Benson also ordered Mitchell to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charge on February 2, 2011.

Mitchell was prosecuted for a violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) passed by Congress in 2006. The Act requires sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction where they reside. Violations of SORNA can be prosecuted in federal court.

According to the plea agreement, in September 2002, in California, Mitchell pled guilty to sexual battery of a medically instituted person, and was sentenced to three years probation, ten months in prison, and required to register as a sex offender. In May 2008, Mitchell was arrested for failing to do so. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January 2009 to probation and 90 days in jail. In February 2009, in San Francisco, Mitchell registered as a transient, or homeless person. His paperwork notified him to update his registration every 30 days and inform the agency having jurisdiction over the place where he was physically present as a transient, in person, within five days of his departure, of his destination, residence or location out of state, and any plans to return to California. Mitchell failed to update his registration and in March 2010, a warrant was issued in California for his arrest. Mitchell was arrested in Blackfoot, Id., on August 31, 2010.