Towaoc Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Failure To Register As A Sex Offender

DENVER – Glen Earl Cotonuts, age 54, of Towaoc, Colorado, was sentenced recently by U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello to serve 20 months in federal prison for failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and U.S. Marshal John L. Kammerzell announced.  Following his prison sentence, Judge Arguello ordered Cotonuts to spend 5 years on supervised release.  The defendant appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody, and was remanded at its conclusion.

Cotonuts was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 1, 2012.  On September 30th, 2013 a jury trial in Denver commenced.  That trial concluded on October 3, 2013 with a unanimous guilty verdict.  The defendant was sentenced on December 16, 2013.

According to court documents, and evidence presented during trial, beginning on June 22, 2012, and continuing until August 15, 2012, Cotonuts was required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, as he was a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law.  Despite knowing that he had to register, Cotonuts failed to register and update his registration while living on the Ute Mountain Ute reservation as required by law. 

“For the safety of the public, sex offenders are required by law to register with law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “When a sex offender changes addresses and fails to register there are serious consequences – including going to prison.”

“This investigation and its successful outcome is yet another example of the resolve of the U.S. Marshals Service towards bringing unregistered sex-offenders to justice,” said U.S. Marshal John Kammerzell.  “Once again I am extremely proud of the work of my deputy marshals and that of our close partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Cotonuts was prosecuted by Durango Branch Office Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney James Candelaria.

####