Sex offender hiding in Gladewater gets life in prison
Posted/updated on: June 16, 2025 at 3:11 am
UPSHUR COUNTY — According to our news parnter KETK, a jury found a 56-year-old man guilty of failure to register as sex offender and sentenced him to life in prison on Wednesday as a habitual offender on account of his prior convictions. In 2023, Ronald Wayne Stivers of Illinois was a registered sex offender in Mississippi before he fled the state and moved in with a woman in Gladewater, according to officials. Stivers reportedly met the woman through Facebook and alternated his identity by lying about his name and changing his license plate.
Once his true identity was uncovered, the woman forced Stivers out of her home and he was later arrested on June 17, 2024. Officials said Stivers was sentenced to life in prison on June 11, 2025 as a habitual offender.
His prior convictions played a role in his sentencing:
On May 16, 1986, the Defendant was sentenced for Theft in the State of Illinois.
On July 5, 1989, the Defendant pled guilty to Criminal Trespass of Habitation in the State of Illinois.
On June 11, 1998, the Defendant was sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Assault (Adult Woman)- Count I and II in the State of Illinois.
On June 11, 1998, the Defendant was sentenced for Felony Escape in the State of Illinois.
On June 11, 1998, the Defendant was sentenced for Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault with Deadly Weapon (Knife) in the State of Illinois.
On June 11, 1998, the Defendant was sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child nine years of age in the State of Illinois.
On March 18, 2008, the Defendant was sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex Offender in the State of Illinois, and despite his criminal history, Stivers was given two years of probation.
On September 8, 2020, the Defendant was sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex Offender in the State of Florida, and sentenced to two years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Fugitive Task Force and the United Sates Marshal with Stivers being arrested by the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force.
