Navajo Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Update His Sex Offender Registration

ALBUQUERQUE – Darrick Negale, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).  The guilty plea 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.

Negale was charged in a criminal complaint on Oct. 26, 2012, with violating SORNA by failing to update his sex offender registration.  On Sept. 10, 2013, Negale was indicted on that same charge. According to the indictment, Negale failed to update his registration between Sept. 25, 2012 and Oct. 10, 2012, in Bernalillo County, N.M.

Negale was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country in June 2007.  On May 6, 2010, Negale registered as a sex offender in Bernalillo County and agreed to notify the sheriff of the county to which he moved if he relocated outside of the county.  Negale last registered as a sex offender on Oct. 3, 2011, in Bernalillo County and subsequently failed to notify the U.S. Probation Office of his whereabouts when he left a residential reentry program in Albuquerque without permission on Sept. 27, 2012.

During today’s hearing, Negale pled guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.  At sentencing, Negale faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison followed by a minimum of five years of supervised release.  Negale will also be required to register as a sex offender following his term of incarceration.  Negale remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez.