SALISBURY — A Kannapolis sex offender was convicted Wednesday in Rowan County Superior Court for felony failure to report a change of address.

Superior Court Judge Anna Mills Wagoner sentenced Richard Allen Melton, 46, to 58 months to 82 months in prison, according to the Rowan District Attorney’s Office.

On May 13, 2016, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office tried to verify Melton’s address, and a deputy discovered his residence appeared abandoned.

A neighbor said the occupants had moved out two weeks earlier. Officials said at the time that Melton approached the deputy and said he had been evicted from the residence two weeks earlier.

On May 17, 2016, Melton went to the Sheriff’s Office to fill out a change-of-address form. Melton had not provided the change of address within three business days as required by law.

Melton was previously convicted of felony breaking and entering, felony indecent liberties with a minor, and felony failure to notify of address change, among other convictions.

— Shavonne Walker