VA- Jailed man avoids sex offender registry

10-8-2009 Virginia:

STAUNTON — A Waynesboro man narrowly avoided the national sex offender registry after pleading guilty to reduced sex charges.

___, 20, appeared in Augusta County Juvenile and Domestic Relations court Wednesday on three counts of carnal knowledge of a child.

___ had sex with a 13-year-old girl multiple times, a felony in Virginia, authorities said. He was 19 at the time.

In court, attorneys reduced his charges to misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor instead of the initial felonies. The reduction bought ___ a cleaner name — he won’t register as a violent sex offender — but landed him six months in jail, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney John Reed said.

“We felt the more appropriate disposition was that he go to jail,” Reed said.

___ appeared in Waynesboro court Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a similarly reduced charge. He’ll serve two months for his Waynesboro crime, but again avoided the registry.

Authorities on Wednesday returned ___ back to Middle River Regional Jail in Verona. ..Source.. by Chase Purdy, The News Virginian