Police: Sex offender didn’t update info, again

COEUR d’ALENE — A sex offender could face life in prison after police said he failed to update his registration — again.

Anthony J. Ruiz, 23, of Post Falls, is charged with six counts of failure to update registration information, all felonies. Prosecutors also filed a persistent violator enhancement.

Ruiz pleaded guilty to battery with intent to commit rape in 2019, for which he was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 100 hours of community service.

He was also placed on probation for three years.

Sex offenders in Idaho are required to notify the county sheriff’s office within two business days of any changes to their address, contact information, employment or vehicle information.

Police said an investigation showed that Ruiz repeatedly changed jobs and residences between February and June 2021 without notifying the sheriff’s office.

He also allegedly changed his phone number without giving proper notification.

Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies arrested Ruiz on Monday night.

This is the third time Ruiz has been charged with failure to update registration information.

In 2020, he was convicted of one count of the same charge.

He was charged again with failure to update registration information in April 2021, when he reportedly purchased and registered a vehicle and did not notify the sheriff’s office.

Ruiz pleaded guilty in late July and was released on his own recognizance ahead of his sentencing, which is scheduled for October.

Prosecutors said in court Tuesday that the state’s patience for Ruiz’s alleged violations “is growing very thin.”

Judge Patrick McFadden ordered that Ruiz be held on $25,000 bail.

Failure to update registration information is a felony in Idaho, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Any person convicted of a third or subsequent felony can face up to a life sentence.