Jimcy McGirt Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as Sex Offender

Jimcy McGirt Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as Sex Offender

OKLAHOMA CITY (Cherokee411) — Jimcy McGirt, the 76‑year‑old whose name became widely known after a 2020 Supreme Court ruling affirming tribal jurisdiction in eastern Oklahoma, pleaded guilty this week to failing to register as a sex offender, federal prosecutors said.

McGirt, a resident of Wewoka, admitted he knowingly failed to register his residence in late August 2024 — specifically by staying at a home within 2,000 feet of a playground or park — violating federal law that prohibits sex offenders from living near such facilities.

He was originally convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in federal court on May 2, 2024, after his case was moved there following the Supreme Court’s McGirt v. Oklahoma decision. He received a life sentence in August 2021, later reduced to 30 years with five years’ probation under a plea deal, and was released in May 2023 after credit for time served.

In April 2025, McGirt was indicted on four counts of failing to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty this week to one count related to his residence near the playground. The remaining counts included failing to provide updated residence information, not disclosing residence with a minor, and failing to report social media and email account details.

Under federal law, McGirt faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for this registry violation. The plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Gerald Jackson, who ordered a presentence investigation report. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Nicole Paladino are prosecuting the case for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. McGirt remains in custody pending sentencing.

McGirt became the center of national attention when his petition led to the Supreme Court’s ruling that much of eastern Oklahoma remains Native American reservation land for major crimes.

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