A South Dakota man has been sentenced to 25 months in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons and took place on January 20, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte.
David George Flute, III, age 36, received a sentence of two years and one month in federal prison. He will also serve five years of supervised release and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Flute was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025 for failing to register as a sex offender and pleaded guilty on October 20, 2025. His requirement to register stems from a previous conviction for aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Authorities noted that Flute has seven prior convictions for failing to register as a sex offender and is aware of his legal obligation to keep his registration current.
After being released from federal prison on November 11, 2024, Flute absconded from probation and remained at large until he was located and arrested by the United States Marshals Service in Sioux Falls on May 21, 2025.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem. Following sentencing, Flute was remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project is led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices along with the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, focusing on prosecuting offenders and identifying victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
