Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges After Evading Sex Offender Registration Requirements in Florida

Tavaris Andre Donaldson faces up to 10 years in prison after failing to register his move from Georgia to Madison County, Florida, under SORNA.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 11:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida

Federal Guilty Plea for Registration Violation

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida has announced a successful prosecution involving the interstate movement of a registered sex offender. Tavaris Andre Donaldson appeared in federal court in Tallahassee to plead guilty to one count of failing to register under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The plea follows a joint investigation that tracked Donaldson's movements after he absconded from his registered residence in Georgia to establish a new life in North Florida without legal notification.

Background of the Original Georgia Conviction

Donaldson’s requirement to register as a sex offender stems from a May 2014 conviction for child molestation in Lowndes County, Georgia. Under the terms of his original sentence and federal law, he was legally mandated to register his presence in every county where he resided or maintained employment. While he initially complied with these rules in Georgia, authorities noted that he abandoned his registered location in October 2024, effectively becoming a fugitive from the registration system until his eventual discovery in Florida.

Discovery of Unreported Employment and Residence

The federal investigation revealed that Donaldson relocated to Madison County, Florida, shortly after leaving Georgia. Employment records verified that he began working in the county in early 2025. Despite being active in the local workforce and maintaining a residence, Donaldson failed to report these changes to the appropriate Florida law enforcement agencies. This omission constitutes a "knowing failure" under SORNA, which was designed precisely to prevent offenders from crossing state lines to escape public monitoring.