Las Vegas Weekly

August 5, 2008 · 2:39 PM

Escape the Fate’s Ronnie Radke finds new fate behind bars

By Aaron Thompson

Escape the Fate's Ronald Joseph Radke's has been sentenced to 18-48 months in prison after a two-month run from authorities.

Photo: U.S. Marshals Office

The fate of Ronnie Radke, the singer turned fugitive from one of Las Vegas’ most popular bands, is sealed.

The lead singer was formally ordered to serve his 18 to 48 month sentence in prison Monday, closing a nearly two-year long drama involving the former Escape the Fate singer and his legal troubles.

Radke, 24, has been running afoul of local authorities since a May 2006 fight left 18-year-old Michael Cook dead and one other seriously injured. In January of this year, Radke was formally sentenced to 48 months probation for his role in the fight and ordered by the judge to enroll in a drug rehabilitation program.

According to authorities however, Radke has done neither. Authorities say that not only has he failed to check in with his probation officer for nearly two months, but the singer has also been using his former status as a musician to convince fans to give him money for drugs to and hide him from police custody. After nearly three months on the run, Radke was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service June 16.

In a June 26 interview with Las Vegas Weekly, Escape the Fate co-founder Max Green said that with Radke’s prevalent drug problems, prison would be the best option for his former best friend’s “f-cked up” life.

“…Ultimately I think (jail) is the best place for him where he’s at right now,” Green said.

Escape the Fate was founded by Radke and Green in 2005. The band, currently fronted by former blessthefall singer Craig Mabbit is set to release their second album, The Fall, this October.

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