TACOMA, Wash. — The search continues for a violent, convicted sex offender who cut off his GPS-tracking ankle monitor when he was released in Tacoma.
Deputies said Level III sex offender Ronald Clayton was released from prison on Saturday, October 5. He then cut off his ankle bracelet and hasn’t been seen since.
Clayton is a 40-year-old white man, who is 6’0” and weighs 225 pounds. He has ties to Pierce and Kitsap Counties.
In 1995, Clayton was convicted of first-degree rape and first-degree assault after he forced his way into a stranger’s home at gunpoint, tied her up and raped her. He ransacked the victim’s home and strangled her with a cord before she was able to escape.
He also has two felony convictions for failing to register as a sex offender in 2014 and 2016.
Deputies said Clayton may be heading to homeless shelters or transient camps.
If you see Clayton, do not approach him, but call 911.
Pierce County Sheriff's Det. Ed Troyer said, "Part of his probation was to wear that bracelet, check in and register as a sex offender. And he didn’t do either. And when he gets picked up, he’ll be going straight to jail."
The Department of Corrections issued the following statement Wednesday night:
"Per the terms of his sentence, Clayton had served his prison sentence and was officially on community supervision as ordered by the court. He was transported from Washington Corrections Center to the Tacoma field office where he was placed on GPS monitoring the same day, per department policy for Level 3 sex offenders, requiring GPS monitoring for the first 30 days after release from our facilities. We encourage anyone who encounters Mr. Clayton to call 911.”
Crimestoppers has offered a $1,000 rewards for information leading to Clayton's capture.
