Thursday, November 27, 2008

Ronald Keith Mack

A registered sex offender faces new charges alleging
he sexually abused four victims under the age of 7.


A registered sex offender faces new charges alleging he sexually abused four victims under the age of 7.

Ronald Keith Mack, 42, could face up to 265 years in prison if convicted on the eight charges against him, ranging from first-degree sexual abuse of a minor to failure to register as a sex offender.

Authorities Tuesday said they are still investigating Mack and asked anyone with information on him to contact the Casper Police Department. Investigators did not detail the allegations and the charging documents against Mack are unavailable because Natrona County Circuit Court does not release information on cases involving alleged underage victims.

Mack, a Chicago native who has a previous Wyoming conviction for indecent liberties with a minor, appeared in circuit court Tuesday afternoon, where a judge set his bond at $75,000. A slight man who wore his hair in a braided ponytail, Mack told the court he has lived in Casper for about four years.

When Judge Michael Patchen asked the defendant specifically where he lived, Mack said he lived at Natrona County Detention Center.

Earlier Tuesday morning, Casper police Sgt. Steve Schulz released a brief statement seeking the public's help in the Mack investigation. Schulz did not elaborate on the statement other than to say the investigation is ongoing.

Police arrested Mack earlier this month on drug and interference allegations, according to police records provided to the Star-Tribune before he was charged with sexual abuse.

Mack is listed on Wyoming's sex offender registry because of his 1995 conviction in Natrona County for indecent liberties with a minor. The registry indicates he was born in Chicago and has several aliases including Ronnie Mack, Ricky Moore, Lee Baker and Ernest Lee Baker.

Mack has twice served time at Wyoming State Penitentiary, according to Department of Corrections spokeswoman Melinda Brazzale.



In April 1994, he went to prison after having his probation revoked in relation to a burglary case three years earlier. He was paroled in September 1994.

Nine months later, Casper police arrested Mack after a 6-year-old girl told her mother a man had tried to molest her, court documents show. That October, Mack pleaded no contest to the indecent liberties charge and a judge sentenced him to three to five years in prison.

Department of Corrections records show Mack finished his sentence in March 1999. Information on whether Mack received sex offender counseling while incarcerated is not public, Brazzale told the Star-Tribune in an e-mail.

In court Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Dan Itzen said Mack has a previous burglary conviction in Illinois.

Anyone with information on Mack can contact police at (307) 235-8278.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte

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