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Press Release

California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in New Mexico

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Eric Leo Alexander, 37, of Anaheim, Calif., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 46 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).  The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and U.S. Marshal Conrad E. Candelaria.

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.

Alexander was arrested in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with violating SORNA by failing to register as a sex offender after traveling in interstate commerce.  Alexander subsequently was transferred to New Mexico to face the charges in this case.  According to the indictment, which was filed on May 14, 2014, Alexander violated SORNA by failing to register as a sex offender in Doña Ana County, N.M., between Sept. 1, 2013 and Sept. 23, 2013.

Trial against Alexander began Sept. 15, 2014, and concluded the next day when the jury returned a verdict of guilty on the sole count of the indictment.  The evidence at trial established that the U.S. Marshals Service initiated an investigation into Alexander in late Sept. 2013, after California authorities requested their assistance in locating and apprehending Alexander.  The California authorities reported that Alexander, a fugitive who had violated the conditions of his probation, was believed to be residing in Las Cruces.

Through investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service learned that Alexander’s criminal history included a 2012 conviction for sexually assaulting a minor for which he was sentenced to four years in a California state prison.  After he was convicted, Alexander was twice informed of his requirements to register as a sex offender.  Alexander also signed forms acknowledging that he was required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and update his registration annually.  Although Alexander registered as a sex offender in California after he was released from prison in Aug. 2013, he then traveled to Las Cruces without informing the California authorities of his intention to leave.

The U.S. Marshals Service’s investigation revealed that as of Sept. 23, 2013, Alexander had been living at a Las Cruces residence with a woman and her two children for three weeks.  It also revealed that Alexander had not registered with the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department within three days of moving to New Mexico as required by SORNA.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez praised the efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service in the investigation and the prosecution of the case.  He also thanked the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department, Tustin (Calif.) Police Department and Santa Ana (Calif.) Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Gould and Luis A. Martinez of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

Updated May 14, 2015