Every now and then we get judgments from other jurisdictions showing convictions for some very interesting offenses. I recently saw one from a county just south of us and I am trying to imagine a fact pattern that might fit this crime...

Attempted Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

I tried to not register but failed...

Did the guy plan to secretly move in the middle of the night, pack all his belongings in the U-Haul truck, only to be arrested as he pulled out of his driveway?

How do you attempt (an overt act) to NOT do something (an omission)?

I guess one scenario for Attempted Failure to Register would be the bad guy goes in to register and pays the publication / notice fee with a check he knows is bad, but then his bank cashes the check anyway?! So he tried to fail to register. Absurd. Plus, how would you show "an act that tends, but fails to accomplish the omission of an act"? I'm guessing the "attempt" was part of a creative plea to change the range of punishment.

Creativity reigns supreme in the plea barganing process. I hope, just once beofre I retire, I can plead someone to illegal recruitment of an athelete. Preferably a TAMU alum.