IFN Staff

A registered sex offender faces new charges after he reportedly failed to comply with state laws prohibiting him from visiting certain places and requiring him to report an address change to local law enforcement. 

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Michael Shane McGinty, 50, of Park Drive, Statesville, in a news release.

The Sheriff’s Office received a report on December 22 that a registered sex offender may have been inside a local hospital. Under North Carolina law, registered sex offenders are not allowed within 300 feet of certain places, including schools, daycare centers, and hospital birthing centers, because those areas are frequented by children and families.

The case was assigned to Sex Offender Registry Compliance Detective A. Sanford, who confirmed through the investigation that McGinty was at the hospital on December 22 and was not there for a medical emergency, which is one of the only exceptions allowed.

Because of the evidence gathered, Detective Sanford obtained a warrant charging McGinty with Felony Unlawful Presence on a Premises by a Registered Sex Offender.

Detective Sanford then attempted to serve the warrant at McGinty’s registered address in Statesville. However, McGinty could not be located, and residents of the home advised he was no longer living there. Since registered sex offenders are required to update their address information, Detective Sanford obtained a second warrant for Felony Failure to Report Change of Address by a Registered Sex Offender.

On December 23, McGinty was located, arrested, and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center. Magistrate Thompson, who issued a $100,000 secured bond.

According to the ICSO, McGinty’s criminal history includes the following charges: Felony First-Degree Sex Offense with a Child, Felony Second-Degree Kidnapping, and Misdemeanor Larceny.