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

Kermit Oris Bear Stops, age 52, was indicted on November 14, 2013.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 21, 2014, 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, and a mandatory $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund will be assessed.  Restitution may also be ordered. 

The Indictment alleges that between September 8, 2013, and November 13, 2013, Bear Stops knowingly failed to register and update his registration.

The charge is merely an accusation and Bear Stops is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
 
The investigation 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.