Rydell Iron Rope Faces Federal Sex Offender Charges

RAPID CITY, SD – Rydell Iron Rope, 47, of Rapid City, South Dakota, is facing federal charges for allegedly failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements, according to a statement released by United States Attorney Ron Parsons. The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury on September 1, 2020, alleges a pattern of non-compliance that authorities are taking seriously.

Iron Rope appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 9, 2020, and entered a plea of not guilty. The charges stem from accusations that between June 1, 2019, and August 1, 2019, and again between December 1, 2019, and February 1, 2020, and finally from March 16, 2020, through May 8, 2020, Iron Rope knowingly failed to update his sex offender registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

This isn’t Iron Rope’s first run-in with the law. Court records show he was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor back in September 1996, triggering the requirement for him to register as a sex offender. Federal prosecutors are now arguing he willfully disregarded that obligation, a serious offense with potentially harsh consequences.

If convicted, Iron Rope could face up to 10 years in federal prison, along with a hefty fine of up to $250,000. Beyond that, the sentence could include five years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered by the court, depending on the specifics of the case.

The investigation into Iron Rope’s alleged non-compliance has been a collaborative effort, involving the U.S. Marshals Service, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is leading the prosecution, building a case against Iron Rope.

Following his initial court appearance, Iron Rope was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, where he will remain pending trial. As of this report, a trial date has not been scheduled. It’s crucial to remember that this indictment represents merely an accusation, and Iron Rope is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any developments.