Sex Offender Who Failed to Register Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison

BATON ROUGE, LA –Acting United States Attorney Corey Amundson announced today that Bryant Emerson Freeman, age 40, of Grants Pass, Oregon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick to a total of 73 months in federal prison as a result of failing to update his registration as a sex offender and violating the terms of his supervised release.

In April 2016, FREEMAN absconded from a federal halfway house in Baton Rouge. Three months later, he was caught in Seattle, Washington. FREEMAN, a convicted rapist, was required to report to authorities every three months and update his sex offender registration. FREEMAN failed to adhere to these requirements after fleeing the halfway house, resulting in the instant prosecution and sentence. While granting the government’s request for a severe sentence, the Court noted that FREEMAN had a pattern of failing to comply with sex registration laws and risked being a recidivist.

Acting U.S. Attorney Amundson stated: “Requiring sex offenders to register is critical to protecting our community, especially our children, from those who may pose a heightened threat. Sex offenders who fail to abide by such registration requirements face severe consequences, as illustrated by today’s sentence. I greatly appreciate the commitment of the U.S. Marshal’s Service and the prosecutors in my office in pursuing these offenders.”

Acting United States Marshal Randy Breckwoldt stated: “The investigation and apprehension of sex offenders is a top priority in this District. The Marshal’s Service will continue to work tirelessly to bring to justice any sex offender who fails to register.”

This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III and investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service.