Benjamin Kitteaux, Escape from Custody, South Dakota 2014

Rapid City Man Charged with Escape

A Rapid City man has been accused of escape from custody. Benjamin Kitteaux, age 28, was indicted on August 26, 2014, by a federal grand jury for Escape from Custody.

Kitteaux was serving the remainder of a federal sentence at Community Alternatives of the Black Hills when he allegedly escaped in August 2014. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The investigation into Kitteaux’s escape is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.

Kitteaux appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 27, 2014, and pled not guilty to the indictment. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

The charge against Kitteaux is merely an accusation, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office warns that a conviction on this charge would bring significant penalties, including a lengthy prison sentence and substantial fines.

Kitteaux’s case is a reminder of the serious consequences of attempting to escape from custody.