Ex-Army Soldier Faces Federal Charges for Sex Offense Registration and Passport Fraud

A former U.S. Army soldier, Ricardo Marlon Blenman, is being held without bail at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu after being charged with failing to register as a sex offender and providing false information on a passport application. Blenman, who was convicted of drugging and raping a juvenile family member in 2018, allegedly used an alias and lied to evade law enforcement in Arizona, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. He is being held in connection with charges filed on May 28 for failing to register as a sex offender and making a false statement in application and use of passport.

Key Takeaways:

• Blenman was convicted of drugging and raping a juvenile family member between 2014 and 2017, and was sentenced to three years in federal prison.
• He was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting the victim four times in Italy and Hawaii, and was convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 2018.
• Blenman is a "covered sex offender" and is required to register under the sex offender registration program in any jurisdiction, including Hawaii, where he allegedly failed to register and provided false information.
• He was born in Panama and became a U.S. citizen in 1990, and has used multiple aliases, including Ricardo Marlon Thompson, to evade law enforcement.
• Blenman is barred by a state protective order from having any contact with his three children or their mother until September 27, 2027.
• He has a history of providing false or misleading information to law enforcement officials regarding his residential addresses, and was arrested in January 2024 for fourth-degree misdemeanor sexual assault.

Statistics:

• 2014-2017: Blenman allegedly drugged and raped a juvenile family member.
• 2018: Blenman was convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for aggravated sexual contact, assault consummated by battery, and administering a drug/intoxicant.
• 2021: Blenman moved to Oahu and failed to register as a sex offender, listing his ex-wife's address in Ewa Beach as his residence.
• May 28, 2024: Blenman was charged with failing to register as a sex offender and making a false statement in application and use of passport.
• June 2, 2024: Blenman was arrested in connection with federal charges.
• April 7, 2024: The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service was contacted by the state Department of the Attorney General for help revoking Blenman's passport.
• April 13, 2018: Blenman was convicted in a General Military Court Martial for sex crimes he committed in Hawaii and Vicenza, Italy, between 2007 and 2017.

Sources:

• The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 2024
• U.S. Department of Justice, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 2018
• Hawaii State Attorney General's Office, July 2024
• U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service, April 2024