Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Update Sex Offender Registration

ALBUQUERQUE – Jonathan James, 44, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

SORNA, also known as the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act, requires that a convicted sex offender register in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, where the offender is employed, or where the offender is a student, and that the sex offender maintain current registrations.

James was arrested on Aug. 25, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with violating SORNA by failing to update his sex offender registration.  According to the complaint, James was convicted in Nov. 2005, of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country, and was sentenced to 121 months in prison.  According to court documents, James violated the conditions of his supervised release after completing his prison sentence when he repeatedly failed to notify his probation officer to any change in residence or employment.  

James subsequently was charged by indictment on Sept. 21, 2017, with violating SORNA by failing to update his sex offender registration in Bernalillo County, N.M., between June 2017 and Aug. 2017. 

During today’s proceedings, James pled guilty to a felony information charging him with failing to update his sex offender registration between June 2017 and Aug. 2017, in Bernalillo County.  James entered the guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.  At sentencing, James faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison followed by a minimum of five years to a lifetime of supervised release.  James will also be required to register as a sex offender when he completes his prison sentence pursuant to his previous sexual abuse conviction.  James remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Solimon.