GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Thomas Lee Peters, a 52-year-old member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, has been sentenced to an additional 12 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender. The conviction stems from Peters’ return to the Swinomish Reservation near La Conner, Skagit County, where he had previously molested a young relative while residing there. In 2009, Peters was sentenced to five years for sexual abuse of a minor.
After serving his sentence, Peters registered in King County but skipped town without notice, ignoring his probation officer’s directives. He violated the terms of his ten years of supervision by drinking alcohol and failing to report to his probation officer. Swinomish Tribal Police apprehended him on tribal land in August 2014.
Peters pleaded guilty on November 25, 2014. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Swinomish Police Department conducted the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London serving as the Tribal Liaison for the prosecution.
Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes announced the sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the original charges and the necessity of Peters’ registration as a sex offender. U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik had previously stated that Peters needed to take his responsibility as a sex offender seriously.
According to records, Peters acknowledged in February 2014 that he was required to notify law enforcement if he moved from the residence listed in Seattle. The case highlights the ongoing struggle with sex offenders who fail to comply with registration laws, even on tribal lands.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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