Transient Charged with Violating Sex Offender Registry Act

Thomas Van Caudy, age 36, appeared in Jefferson County Court via webcam from the Jefferson County Jail on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge.Caudy was arraigned on a charge of violating the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry Act.Caudy is subject to the Sex Offender Registry Act as a lifetime offender. He was convicted of first-degree sexual assault on June 14, 2007 and sentenced on September 13, 2007.The Sex Offender Registry Act requires registrants to notify the local Sheriff’s Office of any change of address within three days.According to the Affidavit in Support of Arrest Warrant, Caudy had previously registered an address in Thayer County on June 26, 2022, and then what the affidavit describes as a “transient address” on September 2, 2022.On September 28, the Nebraska State Patrol advised the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office that Caudy had bene living in Fairbury since September 13.Caudy was arrested on October 3.In court, County Attorney Joseph Casson indicated this was a second offense. Caudy was previously convicted of violating the Sex Offender Registry Act on June 24 of this year in Douglas County. Caudy was sentenced to two days in jail and nine months of post-release supervision, which was then quashed when the defendant informed the court he was moving to Hebron.Because this is a second offense, that makes the charge a class 2A felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.Caudy disputed that this was a second offense, “The previous one, it was supposed to be dismissed.”The defendant requested court-appointed counsel and Public Defender Scott Gropp was assigned to the case.Bond had originally been set at $15,000 (10 percent). Caudy sad he was unable to pay that amount and requested a PR (Personal Recognizance) bond.“I’m not willing to do that today,” said Judge Bauer, citing the defendant’s lack of ties to the community, lack of a permanent address ad prior criminal history.The judge did agree to lower the bond to $10,000 (10 percent), “I think $10,000 is appropriate.”The defendant is also facing another possible charge. Casson indicated the defendant had been found in possession of methamphetamine when he was arrested.As of press time, Caudy had not yet been charged with possession. If the State does file that charge, it is a class 4 felony, punishable by up to two years in prison, 12 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine.Another hearing is scheduled for October 19.

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