BILLINGS—David Crosby, 44, of Forsyth, was convicted of failure to register as a sex offender following a one-day jury trial. United States District Judge Susan Watters presided over the trial. Sentencing has been set for June 14, 2017.
A February 2016 indictment alleged that Crosby failed to register as a sex offender from in or about September 2015 until November 11, 2015. During that same time period, Crosby committed felony offenses for assault with a weapon and sexual abuse of children, for which he was later prosecuted by the Rosebud County Attorney’s Office. In September 2016, the Montana Sixteenth Judicial District Court, Rosebud County, sentenced Crosby to a 50-year term of imprisonment at the Montana State Prison for those offenses.
In 2007 in Colorado, Crosby was convicted of sexual assault of a child by a person in a position of trust. As a result, Crosby is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. At trial, the government introduced evidence that in May 2015, Crosby informed law enforcement in Fort Morgan, Colorado, of his intention to de-register as a sex offender in Colorado and move to New York. In September 2015, however, Crosby’s vehicle broke down in Forsyth, Montana. While in Forsyth, Crosby began working full-time as a welder’s helper. He and his family also rented a home, where they lived until November 11, 2015, when Crosby was arrested by the Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office for the sexual and violent assaults, for which he was later charged and convicted.
Representatives of the Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office and the Montana Sexual Violent Offender Registry testified at trial that Crosby did not register as a sex offender at any point while living in Forsyth. Crosby also testified at trial. He admitted that he did not register as a sex offender while in Montana, stating instead that he believed he had 90 days in which to do so. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, however, Crosby was required to register within three working days after a change in residence or employment.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sullivan.