Man pleads guilty to molesting child

Published Tuesday, October 7, 2008

A Columbia man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison yesterday for molesting a 6-year-old girl his mother baby-sat and recording the abuse.

Pereida

Luis G. Pereida, 28, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and possession of child pornography, Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Merilee Crockett said.

Under a plea agreement, Pereida received 25-year sentences for the exploitation and sodomy charges and a four-year term for the child pornography charge, Crockett said. Boone County Circuit Judge Gene Hamilton ordered the sentences served concurrently.

Pereida was arrested in March after an investigation by the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force. Authorities in January seized a computer from Pereida’s residence at 1515 E. Walnut St., Apt. C.

A later search of the computer uncovered about 5,480 photos and 329 videos of child pornography. Investigators discovered that several photos and two videos showed a prepubescent child being sexually molested by the suspect in his home.

Pereida admitted to molesting a 6-year-old girl in December and told investigators that he began abusing the girl when she was about 4, according to court documents.

Authorities said a second girl, also 6, also was abused by Pereida, although Crockett explained that the charges alleged only abuse of one girl pictured in the recorded material.