Hull Police Arrest 21-Year-Old Man on Charges of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, Disguising Identity to Obstruct Justice

NICHOLAS RYAN SMITH, 21, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, was arrested by Hull Police on Tuesday, July 8. (Photo Courtesy Hull Police Department)

HULL — Chief John Dunn reports that the Hull Police Department arrested a 21-year-old man living in the community for failing to register as a sex offender and attempting to mislead investigators about his identity.

NICHOLAS RYAN SMITH, 21, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, was arrested on Tuesday, July 8, and charged with:

• Failing to Register as a Sex Offender
• Disguise to Obstruct Justice

On Tuesday, July 8, at approximately 7:55 p.m., Hull Police approached SMITH on A Street following an investigation into his status as a sex offender listed in the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry.

A Hull police officer informed SMITH that Hull Police learned about his status as a sex offender who failed to register his residence in Hull, in violation of Massachusetts registration laws. Leading up to his arrest, SMITH made no attempt to register a Nantasket Avenue address, where he has been staying for at least three weeks, with the state’s Sex Offender Registry Board.

SMITH denied being a registered sex offender in Tennessee, saying that the registered sex offender is a twin brother who goes by Nicholas Ryan Smith. SMITH denied ever living in Tennessee and told the officer that his own name is actually Nicholas Dale Smith.

Following his arrest, a deputy from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) arrived at the Hull Police Department booking area, taking the fingerprints of SMITH. The fingerprints were then matched to those taken from SMITH by the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry.

SMITH was also matched to the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry through his Social Security number, after police discovered his Social Security card during an initial contact with him on June 16.

SMITH was later transported to the Plymouth County House of Correction, and he was held there pending arraignment at Hingham District Court on Thursday, July 10.

A Hingham District Court judge ordered SMITH held on $5,000 bail, after the Commonwealth asked that he be held on $25,000 cash bail. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Aug. 1.

“My officers did an excellent job investigating this case, as the subject was attempting to elude arrest by stating that he has an identical twin,” said Chief John Dunn. “I would also like to thank the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in identifying this subject.”

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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