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Press Release

Pierre Man Sentenced For Failure To Register As A Sex Offender

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on September 11, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.   

Adrian Wells, age 37, was sentenced to 18 months of custody, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Wells was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 11, 2012, and pled guilty to a charge of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender on June 25, 2013.

On December 6, 1995, Wells was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse.  The Court sentenced Wells to 63 months in custody and 5 years of supervised release.  Wells was also ordered to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. 

On May 19, 2009, Wells signed a lease for an apartment, but failed to register the apartment as his residence.  Instead, Wells continued to use his previous address, even though he did not reside there.  Wells registered the previous address with law enforcement on five occasions, knowing he was not residing at that address.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Ruettgers.

Wells was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.

Updated June 22, 2015