Registry violation sends man to prison

Aug. 14--CLINTON -- A Clinton man was ordered to serve a term of incarceration for failure to register as a sex offender.

Shane A. Coverdill, 41, appeared Thursday in Clinton County District Court for sentencing for sex offender registration violation, second or subsequent offense, a Class D felony. He also appeared for a revocation hearing on two separate cases.

Assistant Clinton County Attorney Ross Barlow concurred with the recommendation contained in the pre-sentence investigation report for the court to impose incarceration. Barlow referenced Coverdill's "extensive criminal history" and difficulty with registering as a sex offender. He did not oppose the court ordering the sentence to run concurrently with sentences in the two revocation cases.

Defense attorney Robert McGee said he did not see any benefit in ordering Coverdill to serve time in prison. He asked the court to consider ordering Coverdill to be placed in the Residential Corrections Facility. He said it is difficult for Coverdill to find a place to live in Clinton.

Coverdill told the court he believes the RCF program would be best for him. He said he could hold a job if he sticks to the task. He also stated a prison sentence would make it take longer to get his life started back up after his release.

District Court Judge Mark Lawson ordered Coverdill to serve an indeterminate term of incarceration not to exceed five years for the failure to register as a sex offender charge. Coverdill was given credit for time spent in the Clinton County Jail. He was fined $750, which the court was not allowed to suspend. Lawson stated the sex offender registry requirements limit where Coverdill may reside but stated it is the law. Lawson also hoped Coverdill would be successful at the work release program after his sentence.

"It's your responsibility to register," Lawson said. "And at the end of the day you didn't and at the end of the day you've done it more than once. And I can't overlook that."

Lawson revoked probation in two separate cases. Lawson ordered Coverdill to serve an indeterminate term of incarceration not to exceed five years for failure to register as a sex offender, second or subsequent offense, and not to exceed two years for unauthorized use of a credit card under $1,000. Coverdill stipulated to violating the terms of probation in both cases. Lawson ordered the two revocation sentences and the sentence for failure to register as a sex offender, second or subsequent offense, to run concurrently.

According to the affidavit, on April 4, an officer began to try to locate Coverdill as it was brought to the officer's attention by the sex offender registration and criminal records clerk that Coverdill had not checked in every week as required due to him registering as homeless with the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. The last contact Coverdill had with the clerk was March 17, which was not a normal registry day at the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. Coverdill appeared at the sheriff's office and was told to return on March 21. The clerk was unable to meet with Coverdill due to her schedule.

The affidavit states that at 9:40 a.m.April 4, an officer went to the residence of Coverdill's brother to look for Coverdill. No one answered so a business card was left on the door with a note saying that Coverdill needed to call the sheriff's office. The officer at or about 9:50 a.m. went to the residence of Coverdill's sister. No one answered so a business card was placed on the front door with a note saying Coverdill needed to call the sheriff's office.

The affidavit states that per Iowa code, Coverdill may be required to appear more frequently than his assigned tier level by the state of Iowa as determined by the sheriff's office. Coverdill signed a document to this fact Feb. 21. This was witnessed by the clerk. Coverdill was told that due to his homeless status he was required to appear every week to verify. Coverdill is required by the state of Iowa to register as a sex offender due to a third-degree sex abuse conviction in 1998.

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