Convicted sex offender waives charges to court
A convicted sexual offender accused of failing to comply with Megan’s Law for nearly a decade by not registering as a convicted sex offender waived the charges against him to court Tuesday.
Uniontown police Detective Donald M. Gmitter said Timothy Allen Smith, 41, of Uniontown was charged Aug. 2 before Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros with violating Megan’s Law as a non-compliant sex offender after he failed to register as a sex offender for nearly a decade.
Smith waived the charge to Fayette County Court during a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon before Metros.
Gmitter said Smith spent several years in prison for attempted rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse that occurred in 1997.
After his release from jail, Gmitter said Smith registered annually as a sexual offender in 2001 and 2002 as required by law, but had failed to register in the nine years since.
Gmitter said he identified Smith as a non-compliant sexual offender while participating recently in an identification and warrant service for sex offenders in violation of state law.
Gmitter said he joined in the collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement, which resulted in the capture of nearly three dozen wanted sex offenders in western Pennsylvania during a sweep in May and June.
More than 100 sex offenders were tracked down and taken into custody statewide during the sweep.
In most cases, the sex offenders were wanted for failing to comply with annual registration and other requirements for sex offenders under Megan’s Law, similar to the charges levied against Smith.
Megan’s Law is the informal name given to the nationwide requirement of police to provide information to the public regarding registered sex offenders and also encompasses the requirements upon offenders to register with their local police and follow federal, state and local regulations for convicted sex offenders.
Smith remains in Fayette County Prison on $25,000 straight cash bond.