Failure to Register as a Sex Offender Leads to Prison Time for Sioux Falls Man
Garrett Heck, a 30-year-old man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender. This conviction stems from a requirement that Heck, as a result of a prior conviction, register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation, change in employment, or student status.
According to court records, Heck updated his sex offender registration to reflect his new employment on May 14, 2025. However, he failed to update his registration after being evicted from his residence on July 7, 2025. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, and Heck was arrested in Sioux Falls on July 29, 2025.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project is led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, which prosecute individuals who exploit children and identify and rescue victims.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case. Heck was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
In addition to his prison sentence, Heck was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. This sentence serves as a reminder of the importance of registering as a sex offender and updating registration information as required.
Garrett Heck is required to register as a sex offender due to a prior conviction. He was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for failing to update his registration after being evicted from his residence in July 2025.
Defendant: Garrett Heck
Crime: Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
City and State: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Date: February 3, 2026 (sentencing)
Sentence: 16 months in federal prison, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund
Related Federal Cases
- Lavern E. Looking Cloud, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, South Dakota 2016 · South Dakota
- Kyle Marks, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, South Dakota 2016 · South Dakota
- Jordan Traversie, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, South Dakota 2016 · South Dakota
- Justin Jerome Howard, Failure to Register as Sex Offender, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
- Frank White Thunder, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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