Alabama Sex Offender Roberson Gets 37 Months in Federal Prison

MONTGOMERY, AL – Anthony Carl Roberson, 42, of Chilton County, Alabama, is headed to federal prison after admitting he deliberately skipped registering as a sex offender when he crossed state lines. Roberson was sentenced to thirty-seven months behind bars, followed by a decade of supervised release, after pleading guilty to violating federal law.

The case dates back to October 2012 when a federal grand jury indicted Roberson on one count of failing to register and update his sex offender registration – a direct violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Roberson’s initial run-in with the law came in 1996 in Georgia, where he was convicted of aggravated sodomy. That conviction landed him a ten-year sentence with the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the requirement to register as a sex offender upon release.

According to court documents, Roberson moved from Georgia to Chilton County, Alabama, in August 2012. He knew full well his legal obligation: register with Alabama authorities within 72 hours of his arrival. He didn’t. During his January 3, 2013 guilty plea, Roberson admitted to knowingly skirting the law, a calculated decision to avoid scrutiny. He thought he could get away with it.

Chief United States District Judge W. Keith Watkins wasn’t buying it. The judge handed down the 37-month sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of Roberson’s offense. Failing to register isn’t a paperwork issue; it’s a threat to public safety. The ten years of supervised release that follow are meant to ensure Roberson complies with the law moving forward.

The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Marshals Service and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, highlighting the cooperation needed to track and hold accountable those who attempt to evade their legal obligations. Assistant United States Attorney Jerusha T. Adams prosecuted the case, bringing Roberson to justice.

Roberson is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, awaiting transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility. His case serves as a stark reminder that attempts to circumvent sex offender registration laws will be met with federal prosecution and significant consequences.