Pierre Man Charged for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

William Rivers, age 61, was indicted on February 14, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 29, 2018, 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, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

Rivers was convicted of Sexual Abuse in June 1992. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender.  It is alleged that between December 11, 2017, and December 30, 2017, Rivers, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law, failed to properly register as a sex offender.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.   

Rivers was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has been set for June 12, 2018.