William J. Ihlenfeld, II U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia
Scott David Bixler, a 43-year-old resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, has been sentenced to the maximum term of 120 months in prison for failing to update his sex offender registration. Following his imprisonment, Bixler will be under lifetime supervision.
Bixler, a convicted sex offender, is required by the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORNA) to register for life and report any international travel. In July 2023, he fled to Mexico just before he was due in state court for sentencing related to previous convictions for failing to register as a sex offender under West Virginia law.
Upon their arrest in Mexico, Bixler and his spouse were found with two pellet guns, methamphetamine, a cell phone jammer, and a significant amount of cash. The investigation revealed that they were attempting to purchase a young girl while in Mexico. Mexican authorities intervened and arrested the couple.
“The sentence handed down by the Court ensures that the Defendant will be confined in prison for the maximum time allowed by law,” stated Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard. “I shudder to think what might have happened but for the dedication of AUSA Perri, the federal and state law enforcement agencies, as well as the Mexican authorities. Our community and children are safer because of their efforts and the sentence imposed.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The FBI, U.S. Marshals Services, and West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute individuals exploiting children online while identifying and rescuing victims.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the case.
