Gainesville Sex Offender Arrested for Not Reporting Temporary Address

Police arrested a registered sex offender on Monday for failing to meet registration requirements. 

Sean Michael Burnham, 41, registered as a sex offender following a 2009 conviction for child molestation in Pinellas County. 

On March 5, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ryan Depete and Inspector R. McCradle conducted a verification on Burnham’s registered address, says the sworn complaint.

Burnham wasn’t home, but Depete and McCradle spoke with his roommate, who is also a registered sex offender, Robert Allen West. 

West told the officers that Burnham was at his girlfriend Casey McDowell’s residence where he spends four to five nights a week. They also learned that Burnham no longer worked at Wendy’s in Waldo, which needed to be updated in his registration.

On March 15, Depete attempted to contact Burnham at his residence and McDowell’s residence to no avail. 

Burnham later called Depete and was informed he needed to report McDowell’s address as a temporary residence. Burnham confirmed he was no longer employed at Wendy’s.

Officers initially charged Burnham with two counts of registration violations, one for not updating his employment status and the other for not registering McDowell’s residence as a temporary residence. However, the state appears to be prosecuting only one of the charges. It remains unclear which one.

Burnham’s bond is set at $25,000 and his arraignment is scheduled for May 13.