Darrell Chase In Winter Indicted for Sex Offender Registration Failure

A Rapid City man is facing federal prison after being indicted for failing to comply with sex offender registration laws. Darrell Chase In Winter, 24, was named in a federal indictment handed down on December 20, 2016, charging him with failure to register and update his status as a convicted sex offender.

The indictment, announced by United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler, alleges that Chase In Winter neglected his legal obligation to register between May 14, 2016, and September 29, 2016. Federal sex offender registration rules require strict adherence to reporting timelines, especially when a registrant changes residence or fails to confirm their status.

Chase In Winter appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on December 23, 2016. He entered a plea of not guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman, with investigation led by the U.S. Marshals Service—the agency tasked with tracking down fugitive sex offenders.

If convicted, Chase In Winter faces up to 10 years in federal custody, a fine of $250,000, mandatory lifetime supervised release, and a $100 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court may also impose restitution, though specifics have not been disclosed.

Chase In Winter was remanded into federal custody following his hearing and remains detained pending trial. A trial date has been scheduled for February 28, 2017, in U.S. District Court.

The charge against Chase In Winter is merely an accusation; he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that federal registration laws are strictly enforced, particularly in cases involving past sex offenses.