Robert Lavone McCray, 35, of Lake City, pleaded guilty in federal court in Florence, to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
McCray was convicted on August 6, 2003, in New Jersey, for endangering the welfare of a child after he sexually fondled an eight year old girl.
When McCray was released from prison, he was required to register as a sex offender. McCray last signed his New Jersey acknowledgment of his duty to register on January 25, 2012.
Lake City police arrested McCray on September 15, 2012 for public drunkenness. He was also found to have outstanding warrants in New Jersey for Aggravated Assault.
McCray left New Jersey without notifying New Jersey authorities that he was leaving, failed to register in South Carolina, and had been living in Lake City since June of 2012.
The maximum penalty McCray can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 10 years, plus a special assessment of $100.
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.
