Sex Offender Fails to Register, Faces 10 Years Behind Bars

Federal Indictment Charges 52-Year-Old Rapid City Man

Kermit Oris Bear Stops, 52, of Rapid City, South Dakota, has been charged with failure to register as a sex offender, a federal crime that carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine.

The indictment alleges that between September 8, 2013, and November 13, 2013, Bear Stops knowingly failed to register and update his registration as required by law. This charge is merely an accusation, and Bear Stops is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota announced the indictment on November 14, 2013. Bear Stops appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 21, 2014, and pled not guilty to the indictment.

The investigation into Bear Stops’ failure to register is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case. Bear Stops was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for July 15, 2014.

If convicted, Bear Stops faces a mandatory minimum period of at least 5 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The case is a reminder of the importance of complying with the requirements of the sex offender registration laws. The public has a right to know when convicted sex offenders are living in their communities, and it is the responsibility of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure that those who fail to register are held accountable for their actions.

Bear Stops’ trial is scheduled to begin on July 15, 2014. The outcome of the case will depend on the evidence presented and the testimony of witnesses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.