LIHUE — Richard Wayne Rita, 61, of Lihue, was sentenced Wednesday to a five-year prison term for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements. In 2012, Rita was sentenced to probation for one count of sexual assault in the
LIHUE — Richard Wayne Rita, 61, of Lihue, was sentenced Wednesday to a five-year prison term for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
In 2012, Rita was sentenced to probation for one count of sexual assault in the third degree, a class C felony. As a condition of that sentence, Rita was required to register as a sex offender in Hawaii.
While on probation, Rita was registered at the residential address of a family member but was actually residing at a campsite in Lucy Wright Park in Waimea. Rita was arrested by Kauai police in July 2014 and has been in custody since then.
As part of the sentence handed down by Fifth Circuit Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe, Rita’s probation was revoked and he was also sentenced to serve a concurrent five-year prison term in the underlying sexual assault case.
“We thank KPD for conducting a thorough and prompt investigation in this case and helping us to further our mission of protecting the community from sexual offenders,” Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar stated in a release.
The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, an agency of the state Department of the Attorney General, keeps a public listing of all registered sex offenders in the state.
To search for a registered sex offender, visit www.ehawaii.gov/sexoffender.
