Update: Waynesboro man, previously convicted of sex crimes, charged with rape

Update: 9:12 a.m., Wednesday

The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office is now saying that suspect Ronald L. King is still incarcerated at Middle River Regional Jail. He is appearing on the inmate tracking on its website.

“At no point was Mr. King released on bond,” an update from the ACSO sent this morning said. “The information released yesterday was incorrect.”

According to the ACSO, while King was granted a bond over the objection of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the bond was appealed to Circuit Court. A hearing is scheduled in the matter on Dec. 3.

---

Original report, Tuesday, 9:46 p.m.

A Waynesboro man, previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Nelson County, has now been charged with rape in Augusta County, and some judge thought it was a good idea to let him out on bond.

Ronald L. King, 58, was arrested at his residence on Friday and transported to Middle River Regional Jail, where he was initially held without bond.

However, according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, he later appeared again in Augusta County General District Court and was released despite his criminal record.

The new charges stem for an alleged incident on Nov. 18 where a woman reported she was being held against her will in the 400 block of Sandy Ridge Road in Dooms.

Deputies interviewed the victim and took her to Augusta Health for treatment.

After an investigation, warrants were obtained for King on Nov. 21.

King has been charged with:

• 18.2-47 – Abduction by force
• 18.2-61 – Rape by force threat or intimidation

King, who operated King’s Gourmet Popcorn, was sentenced in 2019 to seven active years in prison after being found guilty of aggravated sexual battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The charges stemmed from an incident in March 2017 where King took the victim to get clothes and food before sexually assaulting her, according to court records.

King was arrested on March 21, 2017, and remained in custody until his sentencing in 2019, leaving him with less than five years to serve. His sentence also included two years of supervised probation that would start after his release from prison.

During his sentencing, King said in court that he did not have sex “with the young lady” and said he was “not a criminal.” He expressed remorse for what he called “bad judgment” but insisted he did not use force or rape the minor, according to a report in the News Virginian. He also told the court that he had “a lot of making up to do.”

It didn’t take him long to land back in hot water, unfortunately.

Prior to the 2019 conviction, King previously served more than a year in prison in another state for alleged property crimes. He also had an embezzlement conviction in Fluvanna County related to a business contract that he failed to fulfill.

The investigation into the recent alleged assault is ongoing, according to the ACSO.