April 16, 2010
SHANE LEE ALLEN ARRESTED BY U.S. MARSHALS FOR FAILING TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER
DENVER – United States Attorney David M. Gaouette and U.S. Marshal John L. Kammerzell today announced that Shane Lee Allen appeared in U.S. District Court in Grand Junction yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on charges of failing to register as a sex offender. At the hearing Allen was advised of the charges pending against him. He is scheduled to be back in federal court in Grand Junction on Tuesday, for a detention hearing and a preliminary hearing.
On a April 13, 2010, authorities obtained a federal arrest warrant based on a Criminal Complaint for Shane Lee Allen for failure to register as a sex offender in the District of Colorado under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. This federal law was created to close the loophole that many sex offenders were using to avoid registering by traveling between states and not registering as a sex offender since many states had different registration regulations.
An investigation by members of the Adam Walsh Task Force, which is run by the United States Marshals Service and includes many local law enforcement agencies, found that Shane Lee Allen was convicted in New Mexico in 1991 of Attempted Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Child, and Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor, receiving a 9-year prison sentence. This conviction required Allen to register as a sex offender. In 2002 Allen was also convicted of “Sexual Assault, 10 year age difference,” in Montrose County Colorado. Allen also has two prior failure to register state convictions.
The investigation began with an anonymous tip that ultimately alerted the Grand Junction Police Department that Allen was living with a woman in Grand Junction Colorado. Subsequent investigation showed that Allen had been living in the State of Colorado since September of 2009 and had not registered as a sex offender. Since Allen had previously been residing in Montana he is in violation of the federal statute.
John L. Kammerzell, United States Marshal for the District of Colorado, stated: “The men and women of the United States Marshals Service, District of Colorado, are fully committed to the enforcement of federal law, and particularly to the enforcement of the Adam Walsh Act. Deputy United States Marshals will pursue those who prey upon our most vulnerable victims, who are convicted in a court of law, and who fail to register as a sex offender.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Smith.
A Criminal Complaint is a probable cause charging document. Anyone accused of committing a federal felony crime has a Constitutional right to be indicted by a federal grand jury.
The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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