Facebook Page Leads to SORA Violation for Lima Sex Offender

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — The crackdown on Sex Offenders with unregistered Facebook pages continue with the arrest of a Lima man.

According to a press release from Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty,  Michael Donnelly, 34, was arrested for allegedly violating Duty to Register and to Verify, a class E Felony. Donnelly is a level 2 sex offender for charges related to an incident that date back to 2003.

Allegedly Donnelly had an e-mail address and a Facebook account and has never registered either with the New York State Sex Offender Registry.

The Investigation and arrest were handled by Investigator Dan Rittenhouse.  Bail of $1000 cash and $2000 bond were recommended by the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office.

Donnelly was arraigned in Geneseo Village Court before Village Justice Bushnell who went against District Attorney Greg McCaffrey’s request for bail and released Donnelly on his own recognizance. Donnelly will appear back in Geneseo Village Court.
“We will continue to aggressively monitor and enforce the laws that sex offenders must abide by,” said Sheriff Dougherty.  “You will continue to see these types of arrest for the safety of our communities.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Michael Donnelly mugshot. (Photo/ LCSO)