Sanford sex offender arrested for failing to register

Robert A. Mercer (Sanford Police photo)

SANFORD, Maine - A Sanford man was arrested today for failing to register as a sex offender.

Robert A. Mercer, 42, was charged with one count of failure to comply with the sex offender registration act.

Mercer, a registered sex offender, was arrested after detectives obtained an arrest warrant from a justice of the York County Superior Court on Thursday.

The noncompliance issue was Mercer's second, so it is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Mercer was booked at the Sanford Police Department and booked into the York County Jail on $5,000 cash bail.

Detectives learned that Mercer was residing in Sanford through a housing application that was brought to their attention. Mercer used a name other than his legal name on the application, and it was flagged for further scrutiny.

An investigation was opened, and detectives learned that Mercer had been residing in Sanford since April, without ever having notified the police department or the Maine Sex Offender Registry.

Additionally, Mercer is also being charged with violating Sanford City Ordinance §149-5.16: Residents Restrictions for Sex Offenders. Specifically, for "residing within 750 feet of a private elementary school after having been convicted of a Class A, B, or C sex offense committed against a person who had not attained 14 years of age."