SAN DIEGO -- A convicted pedophile with a long criminal history was being sought Friday for failing to register as a sex offender after being released into the San Diego area two months ago, authorities said.

Charles Thomas was released from prison and placed on parole in January, according to San Diego County Crime Stoppers. The agency is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to Thomas' arrest.

"He essentially chose to get off the bus in San Diego and said this would be the area where he would be, then went to Horton Plaza and sent a fax pretty much right away, saying that he was no longer going to be supervised and a bunch of other ramblings," said U.S. Marshall Deputy Mike Allen.

Thomas lived in the Chula Vista area in the late 1980s, Allen said. He was convicted in 1995 of sexual exploitation of children and was sentenced to 20 years in prison but served only about three-fourths of his sentence.

His criminal history dates back to the early 1970s and includes convictions for drug possession, lewd acts with a child, oral copulation by force on a child under 14, molesting a child, rape and evading a peace officer in a stolen car.

According to Allen, Thomas may be using one of several alias, including David J. Cohen, Mark D. McKinney and Steve Miller.

Authorities described Thomas as white, around 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds, with blue eyes and gray hair.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-TIPS. Tipsters can choose to remain anonymous.