By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
An Atmore man who told an Escambia County, Ala. judge earlier this year he refused to comply with the Sex Offender Notification and Registration Act (SORNA) in order that he would be sent to prison, has been arrested again for a sex crime, this time in Escambia County, Fla.
Antonio Dywone Hartley, 29, who gave authorities an address on Dailey Street in Atmore and an address in Century, Fla., remained in the Florida jail this week. He is being held under a $100,000 bond on one count of sexual battery.
According to sheriff’s reports, Hartley entered his victim’s home in Century through the back door on October 25, then went to her bedroom, undressed and crawled into bed with her.
The woman, who said Hartley held her down and forced himself on her, reported to lawmen that she repeatedly told him she did not want to have relations with him and that he should leave, but it did no good.
Reports indicate that as soon as she was able, she sent text messages to several people, telling them she needed help. When one of those people came to her aid, Hartley was reportedly standing behind a door in the woman’s bedroom, in his underwear but in the process of getting dressed.
Escambia County Detention Center records show the Atmore man was convicted in 2013 of second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy. He has been arrested for SORNA violations at least twice since then.
In January 2021, Hartley told Circuit Judge Todd Stearns he intentionally provided authorities with an incorrect address so he could be sent to prison and not have to register as a sex offender when he got out. He was apparently unaware at the time that registration as a sex offender is a lifetime penalty for those who are convicted of sexual-related offenses.
Escambia County, Fla. Jail records show that Escambia County, Ala. authorities have placed a hold on Hartley for the most recent SORNA violation, as well as a probation violation.