Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Houston Resident Convicted of SORNA Violation
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old man from Harris County has entered a guilty plea to failure to register as a sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Nicholas Isaiah Carlson admitted he violated the Adam Walsh Act, aka Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
On Jan. 8, 2013, Carlson was convicted in Benton County, Oregon, for sexual abuse in the second degree. As a result, he was required to register as a sex offender until January 2023.
Carlson originally came to Houston in August 2016. Although he held a number of jobs and resided in Houston for several months, he never registered as required with authorities. During the plea hearing today, Carlson admitted he knowingly and intentionally failed to register as sex offender. He further acknowledged he knew he was required to do so after arriving in Harris County.
Sentencing has been set for April 17, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas. At that time, Carlson faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie N. Searle is prosecuting the case which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”