Fort Thompson Man Charged With Failure To Register As A Sex Offender

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Stuart Dion, age 30, was indicted on November 14, 2013.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 3, 2013, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum period of at least 5 years of supervised release, with a violation of a condition of release possibly resulting in 2 years of additional incarceration on any such revocation.  If Dion commits a new felony violation of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and other abuse of children, transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes, kidnapping, or sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion, while on supervised release, he may be incarcerated for a mandatory minimum term of 5 years up to life for each violation.  He may also be required to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between September 17, 2013 and October 21, 2013, Dion knowingly failed to register and update his registration.

The charge is merely an accusation and Dion is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Dion was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.