Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Failure to Register as Sex Offender

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 36 months of imprisonment on his conviction of violating federal sex offender registration laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Terry Bonner, 30, on January 16, 2025.

According to information presented to the Court, Bonner previously pleaded guilty and was convicted of First Degree Criminal Sexual Abuse while living in the State of Alabama, resulting in a requirement for Bonner to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). As part of his guilty plea in that case, Bonner was notified that he was required to register as a sex offender in the jurisdiction in which he resides.

Bonner moved to Pennsylvania and lived in the City of Pittsburgh between December 2022 and April 2023. During that period, Bonner failed to take any steps to update his registration with local law enforcement officials as required for a sex offender under SORNA. Court records in Alabama showed that Bonner also had been convicted multiple times for failing to register in that state.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that Bonner's conduct was particularly serious because of his lengthy criminal history, history of violence, and repeated willful disregard for his registration requirements. Judge Hardy stated that SORNA requirements exist to keep communities safe from violent sex offenders with histories like Bonner's, and that he hoped that a sentence of 36 months in federal prison would finally impress upon Bonner, and all sex offenders subject to SORNA, that they must take their obligation to register seriously or face severe consequences.

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin C. Dobkin prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Marshals Service and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bonner.