21-Year-Old Arrested For Raping 14-Year-Old He Emailed From Jail

SAUGERTIES, NY — When jail officials became suspicious of an inmate's communications with a teenage girl, a serious crime was uncovered, according to authorities.

Detectives from the Ulster County Sheriff's Office have reported the arrest of a 21-year-old Town of Saugerties man for rape.

In early September, the Ulster County Sheriff's Office Corrections Intelligence Unit discovered that an incarcerated male at the Ulster County Jail had been electronically communicating with a 14-year-old girl who did not appear to have a familial connection to him, jail officials said. The inmate was identified as Ronald L. Burris III, who was incarcerated on an unrelated charge at the time.

The Corrections Intelligence Unit notified the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office Detective Unit of the communications and a criminal investigation was opened when it was determined the communication between Burris and the 14-year-old child was of a sexual nature.

Through investigation, the Detective Unit discovered that during the summer of 2024, prior to Burris' incarceration at the Ulster County Jail, he had sex with the 14-year-old child on several occasions.

On November 20, Burris was scheduled to be released from the jail on his unrelated charge. However, detectives were there to meet him upon his release and arrested and charged him with two counts of felony rape and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was arraigned in the Town of Saugerties Justice Court and was remanded back to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $30,000 cash bail, $60,000 bond, or $90,000 partially secured bond.