Man sentenced to 25 years for sexual assault, harassment and extortion of woman in Mesa

A man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman and then threatening her with violence and releasing an intimate image has been sentenced to 25 years in prison with lifetime probation, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

Raymond Rukonwitz, 35, was also sentenced to an additional five years after a judge revoked his probation in a previous case, for which he had served time. The sentences will run consecutively, making it 30 total years of prison time.

The case dates back to April 2024, when Rukonwitz allegedly approached the victim as she was leaving work near Dobson Road and Rio Salado Parkway in Mesa.

According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the victim told detectives she had met Rukonwitz earlier that year at a college. On the night of the assault, his vehicle was parked next to hers. When she refused his demand to get into his car, he took her glasses and cellphone before threatening her and forcing her inside.

Rukonwitz then allegedly removed the victim’s clothing and sexually assaulted her before eventually allowing her to leave. Afterward, he sent the victim text messages threatening to physically harm her, hurt her family and burn down her home and car. He also threatened to share a partially nude image of her if she did not have sex with him.

The victim reported the assault in summer 2024 while the Maricopa Community Colleges Police Department was investigating a separate threats case regarding Rukonwitz. The department notified Mesa police, who launched an investigation into the sexual assault.

A jury convicted Rukonwitz in August 2026 on one count of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault, four counts of sexual extortion and one count of harassment.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell credited the victim for coming forward despite the threats.

“It took tremendous courage for the woman to come forward in the face of threats so that this defendant could be held accountable and not harm anyone else,” Mitchell said.

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