Lapwai Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

COEUR D’ALENE –  Solomon Elias Wheeler, 36, of Lapwai, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to nine months in prison, to be followed by three months home confinement, for failing to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Wheeler to serve five years supervised release following his prison sentence.  Wheeler pleaded guilty to the charge on August 23, 2016. 

According to statements made in court, Wheeler had a 2010 Nez Perce Tribal Court conviction for having sexual contact with a minor under sixteen.  As a result of this conviction, Wheeler was required to register and update his registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).  In August 2015, Wheeler failed to complete his sex offender registration.  Wheeler remained unregistered until May 2016, when he was arrested on a federal warrant.  Wheeler has remained in jail since his arrest. 

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.