A 20-year-old man from Washington State is facing a lengthy prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, capturing the act on video, and sending the victim a copy of the footage.
The suspect was identified as Darius Morningstar Speedies, who was sentenced to six years of imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender for his crimes against the teenage girl.
Man Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting 16-Year-Old Girl
The victim said she did not recall the sexual assault against her until she got a video that Speedis took of himself in the act. The suspect entered a guilty plea to the charges earlier this year as part of an agreement with prosecutors. The deal he signed still allowed for the possibility of life in prison.
The victim in the case did not request restitution and Judge Mary K. Dimke waived all court fees when sentencing the suspect. The sexual assault reportedly occurred in November 2022 after the suspect and victim spent the night drinking with a group of friends, according to People.
The defendant provided some of the alcohol that the group consumed that night and after they went their separate ways, he allegedly sexually assaulted the 16-year-old while recording himself doing it.
Later, the victim said she deleted the video before she could give it to law enforcement or prosecutors. Law enforcement authorities added they failed to recover the footage that showed Speedis sexually assaulting the teenage girl.
Police only arrested Speedis in July of last year and the defendant's lawyer did not respond to a request for comments regarding the situation. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R Barker said sexual violence has no place in any community, AOL News reported.
Bringing Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault
Barker added that the sentence against Speedies reflects the seriousness of the suspect's conduct and their unwavering commitment to bringing justice for victims of sexual assault. When the judge handed the sentence, she considered the abuse of trust involved in the case.
She also took into account Speedis' age and reported remorse before pronouncing the prison sentence against him. The judge noted the "epidemic" of sexual abuse occurring on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation.
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Seattle field office, W. Mile Herrington, said that the gravity of the case stems from Speedis' recording of the sexual assault and sending it to the victim. He hopes that the defendant's acknowledgment of guilt can help the victim recover from the traumatizing incident, as per the Attorney's Office.
