Press release - Stephen McKinley Blackman of Fayetteville, NC, pled guilty last week in federal court in Florence, to failure to register as a sex offender.
United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Florence accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Blackman was convicted of Attempted Lewd or Lascivious Battery of a Child 12-16 years of age, in Marion County, Florida on July 26, 2004. He was therefore required to register as a sex offender.
While in prison, Blackman signed forms on three occasions acknowledging his duty to register as a convicted sex offender. In April 2009, Blackman traveled to South Carolina and registered as sex offender in Darlington County, South Carolina. Blackman also acknowledged his duty to register as a sex offender by signing another form in January 2010, but Blackman failed to notify law enforcement authorities in South Carolina when he went to New Orleans then moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he failed to register as a sex offender as required.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty Blackman can receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment for 10 years, plus a special assessment of $100.
The case was investigated by agents of the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Florence office handled the case.
