A 30-year-old man from Madison, Florida, admitted in federal court Tuesday that he failed to register as a sex offender after moving across state lines. Tavaris Andre Donaldson pleaded guilty to a single count of violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), a federal law designed to track individuals with prior sex-related convictions.
The case dates back to a May 2014 conviction for child molestation in Lowndes County, Georgia. Because of that conviction, Donaldson was legally required to update his registration in any county where he lived or worked.
While he had previously been compliant in Georgia, court records show he disappeared from Lowndes County in October 2024. He surfaced in Madison County, Florida, where investigators found he had been living and working since early 2025 without notifying authorities.
United States Attorney John P. Heekin, who announced the plea, emphasized the importance of these tracking measures.
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“Ensuring sex offenders abide by the legal requirements to register their presence wherever they live is a key component of ensuring they cannot victimize others,” Heekin said. He noted that the office prioritizes these cases to maintain public safety and protect children.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is leading the prosecution as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to streamline the prosecution of those who exploit minors.
Donaldson now faces significant legal consequences, including a maximum of ten years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He could also be placed under court supervision for the remainder of his life. U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker has scheduled the sentencing hearing for May 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee.
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