A Lackawanna County judge on Friday denied a convicted sex offender’s challenge of a law that extended his obligation to report under Megan’s Law from 10 years to life.
Matthew Woodruff argued he should not be subject to the lifetime requirement under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act because he pleaded guilty prior to law’s effective date. He also argued the law was unconstitutional because it equated to additional punishment.
Mr. Woodruff, formerly of Clarks Summit, pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2002, to indecent assault for touching the genitals of a 12-year old girl. He was sentenced on Jan. 31, 2003, to six to 18 months in prison. As a sexual offender he was also ordered, upon his release, to register his address with Pennsylvania State Police for 10 years.
In January 2013, Mr. Woodruff was notified by the state police that his classification as a sexual offender had changed and he would not be required to register for life.
Mr. Woodruff’s attorney, Harold Spizer,argued the lifetime requirement did not apply to Mr. Woodruff because SORNA, which altered reporting requirements, did not become effective until Dec. 20, 2012, which was more than 10 years after he entered his guilty plea.
Judge Terrence Nealon rejected that argument, noting the act states that it applies to any defendant who had not yet completed their registration requirement as of the date the act became effective. Mr. Woodruff was required to begin registering as a sex offender after his release from prison on Oct. 14, 2003. That meant he had not yet completed his 10 years of registration until October 2013, more than a year after the act’s effective date.
Mr. Woodruff, who is now blind and lives in Florida with his parents, also argued the lifetime registration requirement was overly punitive as it punished him twice for the commission of a single crime.
While acknowledging Mr. Woodruff is now subjected to more demanding reporting requirements, Judge Nealon said prior appellate courts have held those requirements are not punishment, but a remedial regulation designed to protect members of the public by ensuring police know the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders.
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