Rapid City Man Inidcted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

DOJ Press

PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Sonny Ray Escarsega, a/k/a Sonny Ray Ruiz, age 41, was indicted in November of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno on November 23, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

Escarsega was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in July of 2003.  As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender.  It is alleged that between August 24, 2022, and October 25, 2022, Escarsega, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, failed to properly register and update his registration.


The charge is merely an accusation and Escarsega is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 


The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.   

Escarsega was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for January 17, 2023.

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