Sex Offender Fails to Register, Gets 18 Months

A Rosebud, South Dakota man has been sentenced to 18 months in custody for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, announced United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson.

Waldo Patrick War Bonnett, age 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on March 31, 2014, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in addition to serving 5 years of supervised release.

War Bonnett was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 15, 2014, for knowingly failing to register and update his registration between October 14, 2013, and January 9, 2014.

As a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, War Bonnett was duty-bound to register and update his information. However, he failed to do so, leading to his apprehension on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation on January 9, 2014.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie H. Ruettgers prosecuting the case. War Bonnett was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.

The prosecution of sex offenders who fail to register is a significant priority for law enforcement agencies, and this case sends a clear message that those who fail to comply with the law will face serious consequences.

War Bonnett’s sentence is a testament to the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies to protect the public and ensure that those who have committed sex offenses are held accountable for their actions.