Child sexual assault plea entered

Richard L. Moore entered a plea of no contest to two felony charges of sexual assault of a child in Lincoln County District Court Feb. 9.

Moore, 66, of rural Wallace was originally arrested Oct. 18, 2019 on a warrant executed by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office. 

After his arrest, Moore was originally charged with eight different felony counts—two Class 1B felonies and six Class 3A felonies. 

The charges related to various degrees of sexual assault of a child or minor and intentionally committing child abuse.

In the no-contest plea, two counts of sexual assault of a child in the first degree, a Class 1B felony, was amended to sexual assault of a minor in the first degree, a Class 2 felony. 

The prison sentence for a Class 2 felony is from one to 50 years. A 1B Felony carries a minimum 20-year sentence all the way to life in prison. 

Three counts of sexual assault of a child in the third degree, Class 3A felonies, were amended down to one count.

The sentence for a Class 3A felony carries a penalty of up to three years of imprisonment.

The three Class 3A felonies of intentional child abuse were dismissed as part of the plea. 

 Sentencing for Moore is set for April 19 in Lincoln County District Court.

Federal charges pending

While this plea addresses the charges in Lincoln County District Court, Moore still faces federal charges in U.S. District Court in Lincoln, Nebraska.

He remains in federal custody on two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

Those charges were filed in November, 2019 following an investigation by federal authorities. 

When the original warrant was executed, the Perkins County Sheriff’s Office assisted Lincoln County since Moore’s rural residence sits in Perkins County. 

Computers, photography and video equipment and related items filling two small trailers were confiscated from Moore’s home. These items were later turned over by the Perkins County Sheriff’s Office to federal authorities for further investigation. 

A conference call on the status of the case between the prosecutors, lawyers representing Moore and the magistrate judge is scheduled for March 10.