LUIS ALBERTO MORALES, a 42-year-old former soldier at Joint Base Lewis McChord, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for producing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.
The horrific crime occurred in 2016 when MORALES’ estranged wife discovered videos on his cell phone showing the rape of a 2-year-old autistic child. She immediately contacted Army Military Police, and MORALES was taken into federal custody on August 9, 2016.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (Army CID) and the FBI. MORALES was indicted for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor and production of child pornography. He has been in federal custody since his arrest.
MORALES pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in May 2017, which carries a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan ordered MORALES to be on lifetime supervised release and register as a sex offender following his prison term.
“This is a horrific crime – words are inadequate to describe the harm done by this defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “I commend the dedicated law enforcement officers from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and the FBI who moved quickly to protect the victim and worked closely with our office to ensure the defendant was locked up and held to account.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Grady Leupold and Matthew Hampton.
MORALES’ crime is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child abuse and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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