Russell County Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Convicted Sex Offender

Montgomery, Alabama - On Friday, May 9, 2014, Gregory Whidden, a resident of Russell County, Alabama, pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama to a federal felony charge of failing to register as a sex offender, announced United States Attorney George L. Beck, Jr.

A federal grand jury indicted Whidden in February 2014 for one count of failing to register and update a registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act after he traveled in interstate commerce in violation of federal law. According to court documents, Whidden was convicted of sexual abuse second degree in the Circuit Court of Russell County, Alabama in 1987. Due to this conviction, Whidden is required to register as a sex offender for life. Whidden registered in Lee County in 2010 and 2011, then relocated to Florida and registered in Florida. Defendant’s last registration in Florida occurred in November 2012. At the change of plea hearing, Whidden admitted that, as a convicted sex offender, he was required to register and that if he moved to another state he must register in that new state. Whidden also admitted at the hearing that he traveled from Florida to Alabama in August 2013 and relocated to Russell County. Whidden further admitted that, after relocating to Russell County, he did not register as a sex offender in the State of Alabama or update his Alabama registration.

Whidden’s sentencing hearing before Senior United States District Judge Myron H. Thompson is yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Whidden faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and no less than five years of supervised release following his release from prison. Whidden remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

This case was investigated jointly by the United States Marshals Service and Phenix City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jerusha T. Adams prosecuted the case.

PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
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