What Are the Penalties for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in Missouri?
Sex Offender RegistrationIf you’re convicted of a sex crime in Missouri, you may have to register as a sex offender upon your release from prison. But what happens if you fail to register as a sex offender or update your registration information? Failing to register may constitute a new sex crime that can lead to penalties in the event of a conviction.
Who Has to Register?
Most people convicted of a sex offense in Missouri or who move to Missouri after a conviction for a sex offense in another state must register with the chief law enforcement officer for the county where they reside. Missouri’s sex offender registration law classifies registrants into three tiers based on the nature of their conviction.
What Are Missouri’s Sex Offender Registration Requirements?
A registrant’s requirements under Missouri’s sex offender registration depend on their tier classification. Tier I registrants must verify their information in person annually in the month of their birth. Tier II registrants must verify in person semiannually in the month of their birth and six months thereafter. Tier III registrants must report every 90 days.
Information that registrants must provide for their sex offender registration includes:
- Name
- Residence (including temporary lodging)
- Employment status (including intern or volunteer positions)
- Student status
- Vehicle information
- Email addresses, instant messaging addresses, or other designations used in internet communication
- Phone numbers
Registrants must inform the police of any changes to the above information within three days. Registrants who move from one county to another must report to the chief law enforcement officer in both their old and new counties of residence.
What Constitutes a Violation?
Examples of conduct that may constitute a failure to register as a sex offender include:
- Not registering upon release from incarceration
- Not registering upon moving into Missouri
- Not verifying information at the required anniversaries
- Failing to inform law enforcement in a timely manner of changes to registration information
- Not informing one’s old and new counties after moving to a new county in Missouri
Criminal Penalties for Failing to Register
Penalties for failing to register as a sex offender in Missouri will depend on the type of offense triggering your registration obligations and whether you have prior incidents of failing to register. By default, failing to register constitutes a Class E felony, unless your registration obligation results from a Class A, Class B, or unclassified felony for rape, statutory rape, sodomy, child molestation, bestiality, enticement of a child, or sex trafficking, or for a sex felony involving a child under 14. In these cases, failing to register constitutes a Class D felony.
A Class E felony can impose a sentence of up to four years, and a Class D felony can impose a sentence of up to seven years. A third or subsequent offense for failing to register can result in a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison. Additionally, any person sentenced for failing to register must serve at least two years in prison before becoming eligible for conditional release or parole.
Collateral Consequences
A conviction for failing to register as a sex offender can lead to other consequences for registrants. These may include increased difficulty in obtaining housing or employment due to the stigma of a sex conviction and a subsequent failure to register. You may also face increased scrutiny from law enforcement and adverse effects on your family life and social reputation.
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you have obligations to register as a sex offender in Missouri, understanding when you must report to law enforcement can help you avoid severe penalties. Contact Richard H. Sindel, Inc. today for a confidential consultation with a sex crimes defense lawyer to learn more about your legal rights and responsibilities.