Hampshire County man admits to sex offender registry violation

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Anthony Dale Helton, of High View, West Virginia, has admitted to a sex offender registration violation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Helton, age 50, pled guilty to one count of “Failure to Register.” Helton, who had previously been convicted of a sex offense in South Carolina, admitted to traveling across state lines without updating his sex offender registration, as required by law, in November and December 2017 in Hampshire County. 

Helton faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshals Service investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.