Thursday, May 03, 2012

Megan's Law - registration - homelessness

Commonwealth v. Demmitt - Pa. Super. May 2, 2012
 
 
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appeals the July 15, 2009 order entered in the Centre County Court of Common Pleas that granted Harvey Elwood Demmitt, Jr.’s motion for a new trial after a jury convicted him of failing to comply with registration of sexual offender requirements pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4915(a)(1).
 
The Commonwealth argues Appellee was not entitled to a new trial as Megan’s Law1 should not be construed to allow sexually violent predators to circumvent the requirement of registering a location as their “residence” by asserting a defense of homelessness. We agree and reverse.