Mesa man gets 30 years for assault and sextortion

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday that Raymond Paul Rukonwitz will spend 30 years in prison. The 35-year-old man was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in Mesa and later threatening her with online blackmail.

The sentencing order, issued on October 23, includes 25 years for the 2024 crimes and lifetime probation. The judge also revoked probation on a separate, earlier case. That decision added five consecutive years to his sentence, bringing his total time behind bars to three decades.

Investigation began in the summer of 2024 when a woman reported the incident to Maricopa Community Colleges police. She stated that the assault happened two months prior to her report. The Mesa Police Department took over the case after the initial report.

The victim told detectives she was leaving work in April when she saw Rukonwitz parked near Dobson Road and Rio Salado Parkway. The two had met in college earlier that year. She said he asked her to enter his car. When she refused, he took her phone and glasses.

She entered the vehicle after being threatened. She told investigators that Rukonwitz removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her before letting her go. Following the incident, he sent text messages threatening to hurt her and her family. He also threatened to set fire to her home and car.

The extortion involved a promise to post a nude photo of her if she did not have sex with him. A jury convicted Rukonwitz in August of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, and four counts of sexual extortion. All were felonies. He also received a misdemeanor conviction for harassment.

Rachel Mitchell, the Maricopa County Attorney, said in a news release that the woman showed tremendous courage to come forward. Mitchell thanked Mesa Police and Maricopa Community Colleges Police for their collaboration in building the case. She added that prosecutors ensured the victim’s voice was heard and justice was served.