BODY:
A California man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his heinous crimes against two minor children. Thelmo Meneses Santos, Jr., 60, of Merced, was employed by the U.S. Army as a civilian employee outside of the United States when he committed the atrocities. Between 2015 and 2023, Santos repeatedly sexually abused two minor children, starting when they were just 11 years old.
The abuse took place in Japan, where Santos was working at the time. During the investigation, Santos admitted to engaging in sexual acts with both victims, as revealed in an interview with law enforcement officers. However, after his arrest in Hawaii by Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents, Santos attempted to manipulate one of his victims into recanting her report of abuse.
Santos’s sentence includes 15 years of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release. In addition to his prison time, he will be required to pay restitution to his victims and register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, works, and studies, as mandated by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The case against Santos was a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Army. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva played a key role in securing the conviction. Santos’s actions have left a lasting impact on the lives of his victims, and his sentence serves as a reminder of the severity of child sex abuse crimes.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this case, it is clear that justice has been served. However, the scars of Santos’s abuse will remain with his victims for a lifetime.
Source: Department of Justice
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