Anthony Broadnax, a 61-year-old resident of Beckley, West Virginia, admitted guilt today to the charge of failing to register as a sex offender under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). This legal obligation was neglected after Broadnax moved from Virginia to West Virginia.
Court documents and statements indicate that from May 2021 to July 26, 2021, Broadnax lived in Beckley and did not register as a sex offender in West Virginia nor update his Virginia registration following his relocation. This requirement stems from Broadnax's prior convictions for aggravated sexual battery on August 25, 1990, and rape on February 7, 1991, both in Prince William County, Virginia.
Sentencing for Broadnax is scheduled on August 29, 2025, where he could face up to 10 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, in addition to a possible $250,000 fine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the plea and acknowledged the investigative efforts of the United States Marshals Service (USMS). The hearing was presided over by United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn, while Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is managing the prosecution.
As part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, SORNA establishes mandatory guidelines for sex offender registration and notification across the United States, emphasizing the need for registered offenders to update and maintain their registration in locations where they live, work, or attend school.
Further details and related court documents can be accessed on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia, or through PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-226.
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