TUCSON, Ariz. (LAWFUEL) – Christopher Matthew Clements, 26, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge David C. Bury. Clements was convicted on August 5, 2008 of failing to register as a convicted sex offender following a federal trial.
Clements, a convicted sex offender, was apprehended at his residence in Tucson in February 2008, following an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service. He was officially registered with law enforcement officials in Oregon as having an address in Portland. Portland law enforcement officials had already determined that he had vacated the residence in Portland without updating his registration.
Clements first had contact with law enforcement in Tucson in October 2007 on an unrelated matter when officers determined that he was an unregistered sex offender. He was reminded of his requirement to register during that meeting. When Clements failed to do so, law enforcement officials began investigating to determine his whereabouts. As of February 5, 2008, he had still not registered as required by law.
On July 27, 2006, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 was signed into law. Section 141 of the Adam Walsh Act contains the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), which imposes criminal penalties of up to 10 years in federal on individuals who are required to register as sex offenders, who travel in interstate commerce or have been convicted of certain federal offenses and knowingly fail to register or update their registration. SORNA requires a person convicted of a sex offense to register, and keep the registration current, in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, works or is a student.
The investigation in this case was conducted the U.S. Marshals Service. The prosecution was handled by Shelley K.G. Clemens, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-08-303-TUC-DCB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-017(Clements)
