An upstate New York man set to be released from jail on an unrelated charge was rearrested for raping a child just as he was about to walk free in Kingston, authorities announced Friday.
Ronald L. Burris III, of Saugerties, is accused of having sexual intercourse with a child multiple times over the summer, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The 21-year-old was scheduled to be freed from Ulster County Jail on Nov. 20, but was instead met by detectives upon his release and promptly arrested again. Burris has been charged with two felony counts of second-degree rape and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
According to the sheriff’s office, Burris’ latest arrest stems from an investigation into communications he was exchanging while behind bars with a 14-year-old female who didn’t appear to be related to him. Detectives soon determined the messages were “sexual in nature.”
Upon further investigation, authorities learned that earlier this year, prior to Burris’ incarceration, he’d “engaged in sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old child on several occasions.”
On the day of his scheduled release, “detectives were there to meet him,” the sheriff’s office said.
Burris was arraigned in Saugerties Justice Court and remanded back to Ulster County Jail on $30,000 cash bail, $60,000 bond, or $90,000 partially secured bond.
Details of his prior incarceration on the unrelated charge were not released.
