Sex offender pleads guilty to federal charges

Edward Earl Sparrow, 50, of Chapel Hill, admitted guilt to possession of child pornography and failure to register as a sex offender and traveling in interstate commerce. He faces up to 30 years in prison on those charges and will be sentenced in March.

Prosecutors said that Sparrow didn't update his sex offender registration when he moved in the Dominican Republic. He was arrested in that country in June and extradited to the United States.

Sparrow was convicted of felony indecent exposure in 2009, misdemeanor indecent exposure in 1995, assault on a child in 1994 and indecent liberties with a child in 1991, according to state Department of Correction records. He's served four prison terms totaling five years.