Ankle bracelet excuse fails in court

A sex offender cannot use an ankle monitor as an excuse for failing to update his address on the sex offender registry, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.

Justin Taylor pleaded guilty to Class C felony child molesting and was released from incarceration in June 2009. At that time, he was told he was required to register with the Sex and Violent Offender Registry in Marion County for 10 years. The registry mandated Taylor provided his current address and update it within three days if he moved.

Taylor was arrested again in May 2011 and convicted of criminal confinement. He was release to home detention on Aug. 29, 2011.

In September, the compliance officer learned Taylor was not living at either of the addresses listed on the sex offender registry. Taylor was subsequently arrested and charged with a Class D felony failure to register as a sex offender.

The trial court found him guilty.

Taylor did not dispute he did not update his registry when he was placed on house arrest, but he claimed he did not knowingly or intentionally fail to register because he was not aware he was required to register. He assumed with an ankle bracelet and other means, the state was closely monitoring him.

In Justin Taylor v. State of Indiana, 49A05-1201-CR-4, the COA found his argument without merit and affirmed Taylor’s his conviction.

The state presented evidence Taylor received notice after his release that he was required to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Also in June 2009 and again in July 2009, he signed the form, which displayed in bold letters “FAILURE TO COMPLY IS A CLASS D FELONY.”

Judge Melissa May wrote, “Taylor’s signature acknowledged he understood that language, and he did comply with the requirements when he first registered as a sex offender. Any argument Taylor offers to the contrary is an invitation for us to reweigh the evidence, which we cannot do.”