BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A 61-year-old Beckley man has pleaded guilty in federal court to failing to register as a sex offender after relocating from Virginia to West Virginia, a violation of federal law under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
Anthony Broadnax admitted in court that between May 2021 and July 26, 2021, he resided in Beckley after moving from Virginia but failed to register as a sex offender in West Virginia or update his registration in Virginia, as required under SORNA guidelines.
Broadnax is legally required to register due to prior convictions in Prince William County, Virginia, for aggravated sexual battery in 1990 and rape in 1991.
Federal authorities charged Broadnax under SORNA, which mandates that sex offenders keep their registration current in any state where they live, work, or attend school. The law is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, aimed at closing registration loopholes and strengthening public safety.
Broadnax now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release ranging from five years to life. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2025.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service (USMS). Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnstonannounced the plea and praised the Marshals’ work in tracking Broadnax’s non-compliance.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case.
