Convicted rapist found guilty of failing to register as a sex offender

NORFOLK, Va. – A U.S. District Court Judge convicted James Dion Palmer, 56, yesterday on two counts of failing to register as a sex offender.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on May 2, 2001, Palmer was convicted in the Circuit Court for Henrico County of a rape he committed on Oct. 13, 2000, which required him to register for life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). SORNA requires offenders to provide information related to intended travel.

Without disclosing his travel plans or receiving permission to travel, Palmer flew from Norfolk to San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2021. On March 3, 2021, Palmer traveled from California to Washington, and on March 4, 2021, his ankle-worn GPS tracking device ran out of charge. After his departure and before his GPS monitor ran out of charge, Palmer communicated by telephone with his probation officer, who encouraged Palmer to register as a sex offender in San Francisco and informed him that he was in violation of his obligations as a sex offender.

On Oct. 31, 2021, Palmer submitted documents to the Virginia State Police indicating a change of location of residence and probationary oversight. Palmer had written his probation officer’s name on the document, but the probation officer had neither submitted nor approved the document.

On Nov. 16, 2021, Canadian Border Patrol notified the Virginia State Police that Palmer was found in Vancouver, Canada, and Canadian authorities determined that Palmer did not enter Canada through an official border control point. Palmer had neither notified his probation officer of his plans to travel to Canada nor received approval for such travel.

Palmer faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton D. LaForge and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Anne Cournoyer are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-113.