Homer resident pleads guilty to failing to update his sex offender registration

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Homer resident pleaded guilty Wednesday to failing to update his sex offender registration.

James Fernando Rhodes, 50, of Homer, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of failure to update sex offender registration.  The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana conducted a sex offender compliance check on Rhodes in March of 2013. He was not found at his reported address and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A tip to the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office led to Rhodes’ arrest in May of 2016. He later admitted to living in Louisiana for two years without registering as required by law. The defendant was convicted of indecency with a child-sexual contact on December 8, 1995 in Dallas County, Texas, and was required to register as a sex offender for life.

Rhodes faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.  A sentencing date of February 1, 2017 was set.

The U.S. Marshals Service, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick is prosecuting the case.