Tyndall Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

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

Jose Eduardo Rodriguez, age 44, was indicted on February 11, 2020.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 14, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

Rodriguez was convicted of Fourth Degree Rape in July 1998.  As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender.  It is alleged between August 18, 2019, and December 26, 2019, Rodriguez, 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 and update his registration.

The charge is merely an accusation and Rodriguez 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.   

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