Burlington Man, 67, Arrested for Felony Failure to Register as Sex Offender

The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registration Unit arrested Melvin James, 67, of Burlington, on Friday on felony charges alleging he failed to comply with North Carolina’s sex-offender registration requirements, authorities said. Deputies took James into custody following an investigation into his registration status with the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry.

James is charged with one count of felony failure to report a change of address and one count of felony failure to return a verification notice, the arrest notification states. Officials say the charges stem from investigators’ determination that he did not report an address change and did not return required verification paperwork tied to his registry obligations.

Authorities say James was given a $15,000 secured bond and remains behind bars at the Alamance County detention facility. The arresting unit that handled the case is the Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registration Unit, which the Sheriff’s Office uses to track and investigate compliance among registrants in Alamance County.

Officials highlighted the registry’s role in community safety in describing the case. "The state registry is intended to help law enforcement protect communities by requiring individuals convicted of sex offenses, or certain offenses involving minors, to regularly report and verify their information with law enforcement," the statement reads, reflecting the registry’s stated purpose in the materials released with the arrest information.

Local reporting identified the charges and custody status but did not provide further details about the alleged address change or the dates when verification notices were issued or missed. Court filings and arrest reports filed with the Alamance County Clerk of Court and the Sheriff’s Office booking records will contain the formal complaint language, the statute citations for the felony counts, and any scheduled court dates.

The case will move through the Alamance County court system if prosecutors formally file the charges; the Clerk of Court docket and the District Attorney’s Office will list any arraignment or hearing dates. Jail records maintained by the Alamance County detention center will reflect whether James remains in custody and the status of the $15,000 secured bond.