ABINGDON, Va. – Corey Richard Parton, 36, of Bristol, Virginia, admitted in federal court today to deliberately dodging the law as a convicted sex offender. Parton pled guilty to failing to register and update his information under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), a move that sent him on a two-year run from justice – ending in a Cancun hideout.
Court documents reveal Parton’s crimes began well before his flight. In December 2018, he was convicted in Russell County, Virginia, on felony charges of proposing a sex act via communications and soliciting child pornography. This conviction triggered a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender, a duty he initially fulfilled with a registration on April 16, 2019. But the compliance was short-lived. Parton was required to update his registration every 90 days, and he simply stopped.
The Virginia State Police (VSP) caught onto the scheme in August 2023, discovering a litany of unreported changes. Parton hadn’t updated his address, vehicle registration, employment, or – crucially – his use of social media, which he was legally prohibited from accessing. Re-registration forms were sent, ignored, and ultimately led to initial charges in Bristol General District Court and a brief period on bond. It was after his release that Parton truly vanished.
Law enforcement quickly discovered Parton hadn’t just skipped town, he’d skipped the country. He traveled to Galveston, Texas, and boarded a cruise ship bound for Cancun, Mexico. But Parton had no intention of returning. He disembarked in Cancun and effectively disappeared, adopting the alias “Dominque Garcia” and taking up residence at the Ocean Dream Hotel in Coco Bongo Beach. It took over a year and a half, but authorities finally tracked him down and arrested him on May 25, 2025.
“This case highlights the dedication of our law enforcement partners in tracking down those who attempt to evade justice,” stated Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci for the Western District of Virginia. Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sex offender registry. The U.S. Marshals Service and VSP were instrumental in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is now tasked with securing a sentence for Parton. The exact terms of his punishment remain to be seen, but one thing is certain: his days of running are over. This case serves as a stark reminder that attempts to circumvent the law, no matter how elaborate, will ultimately be met with the full force of federal and state authorities. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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