United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Newcastle, Nebraska, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Joseph Ross Burks, age 40, was indicted on February 1, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on February 3, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between May 22, 2021, and July 27, 2021, Burks, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under state law, and having traveled in interstate commerce, failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Burks is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Burks was returned to State Custody pending trial, which has been set for April 12, 2022.
