If a person is convicted of a sex crime in South Carolina, not only do the criminal penalties include imprisonment, fines, and a permanent criminal record, but it also results in placement on the state’s sex offender registry.
There are two tiers of sex offender registration: Tier II and Tier III. Essentially, Tier III offenders are convicted of the most serious crimes, while Tier II offenders are convicted of less serious offenses.
Tier II offenders must register bi-annually for a minimum of 25 years and are required to make in-person appearances at the registering agency every six (6) months. On the other hand, Tier II offenders must register quarterly for the rest of their lives and are required to appear every three (3) months.
The following are several potential consequences for sex offenders in SC:
Register annually and keep their home address current.
Prohibited from living and going near certain places, such as schools, parks, playgrounds, and other locations where children consistently frequent.
Experience difficulties finding employment because they are not allowed to work near schools, spas and salons, retail stores, and in positions of power over another person.
The other parent can use the registration as a reason to deny a sex offender custody of his/her children.
Being registered as a sex offender can turn someone into an outcast.
Once a person is in the sex offender registry, it is extremely difficult to remove himself/herself from it. The rare exceptions are getting the conviction overturned, reversed, or vacated on either an appeal or post-conviction relief (PCR).
A first offense for failing to register as a sex offender in South Carolina is a misdemeanor, which carries a prison term of up to 366 days and a maximum fine of $1,000. While a second offense is also a misdemeanor, it is punishable by a mandatory 366-day sentence. A third offense can result in a mandatory five-year term, while probation can be granted after serving three years of that prison sentence.
If you have been charged with a sex crime in Lexington or Columbia, contact the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC today at (803) 359-3301 to let an experienced attorney help you avoid serious criminal penalties, including sex offender registration.