Richard Dale Turner, 44, of Julian, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to failing to update his sex offender registration as required by federal law. Turner admitted in court that he did not report a change in employment after leaving a trucking job on January 3, 2025. He is required to register as a sex offender due to a previous conviction for third-degree sexual assault in Mason County Circuit Court on March 8, 2016.
Authorities issued an arrest warrant when Turner missed a scheduled court appearance on June 23, 2025. Law enforcement officers located and arrested him in Santa Rosa County, Florida, on August 15, 2025. During this period, Turner also failed to register as a sex offender in Florida or notify West Virginia officials about his interstate travel.
Turner will be sentenced on March 2, 2026. He faces up to ten years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a possible fine of $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the plea and recognized the investigative efforts of the United States Marshals Service (USMS). “United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).”
The case was heard by United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is handling the prosecution.
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, sets national standards for registering and notifying authorities about sex offenders. SORNA requires registered sex offenders to keep their information current wherever they live, work, or attend school across jurisdictions.
Further details about this case can be found by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-168 on PACERLinks.
