State v. Pickett

— The State of Washington requires convicted sex offenders to register with the county sheriff, and to provide the sheriff with a residence address. But, Martin Pickett was homeless. The registration statute neither provides a way of registering for homeless individuals who have no permanent place of residence nor requires that all such offenders establish a residence upon release. Thus, there is insufficient evidence to support Pickett’s conviction for failure to register. Further, Pickett proved by a preponderance of the evidence the affirmative defense that he did not have a residence…