KYLE, S.D. - A 26-year-old Kyle, South Dakota man has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a minor. Rudolfo Ceron III was found guilty of raping a 13-year-old girl.

In addition to his prison sentence, Ceron is required to register as a sex offender, serve five years of supervised release after his incarceration, and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. 

Ceron was indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor by a federal grand jury in October of 2023. He pleaded guilty on Apr. 5, 2024.

Chief Judge Roberto Lange, who handed down the sentence, emphasized the need to protect the public and provide both punishment and deterrence.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case under the Major Crimes Act, which requires that certain violent crimes occurring in Indian Country be tried in federal court rather than state court.