MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Donald W. Patterson, 41, of Burlington, West Virginia, was convicted in federal court today of failing to update his sex offender registration when he moved from West Virginia to Maryland, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
In 1993, Patterson was convicted of “Statutory Rape" in Tennessee. As a result of that conviction, Patterson is required to register as a sex offender. An investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police revealed that in the fall of 2013, Patterson moved across state lines to Maryland without updating his sex offender registration status.
He pled guilty today to one count of “Failure to Register and Update Registration as a Sex Offender - SORNA." He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. 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 Stephen Vogrin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
