An Elmira man could potentially spend the rest of his life in prison after his conviction in Schuyler County for predatory sexual assault against a child.
Kenneth G. Morales, 30, pleaded guilty July 16 in Schuyler County Court to two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, a Class A-II felony.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, Schuyler County Judge Matthew C. Hayden sentenced Morales to 18 years to life in prison on each count, to be served concurrently. Morales will also be required to register as a sex offender and orders of protection were issued for the victims.
Morales was initially arraigned in Schuyler County Court in March of this year on three counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, three counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, and first-degree attempted rape, all felonies, along with two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
At Morales' sentencing, Schuyler County District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan detailed the full extent of the illegal sexual acts the defendant inflicted on the two young victims.
The abuse began when the children were six and seven years old and continued for nearly seven years, Hourihan said. The abuse happened in both Schuyler and Chemung counties and included oral sexual contact and other acts, he said.
Hourihan also described how Morales chronicled his sexual abuse of the children by taking hundreds of photographs of those acts.
In arguing for the maximum sentence under the plea agreement, Hourihan said Morales had targeted and groomed the victims from a very young age by offering video games and cellphone usage for sexual acts. He was so brazen in his actions, he abused the children while other people were in the home, Hourihan said.
"This monster stole the childhood from these children, and forfeited the privilege of living freely in this community," Hourihan said, arguing a life sentence would ensure Morales would never have the opportunity to take the childhood away from another victim.
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In pronouncing sentence, Hayden said he would not offer any mercy to Morales.
"This is one of those cases that prison does not adequately address the horror these children had to deal with," Hayden said, adding his "evil acts are a life sentence to these children."
The case was investigated by New York State Police and the Elmira Police Department Detective Bureau.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Elmira man gets up to life in prison for sexual contact with children