A Fort Bliss soldier was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing an underage family member, Army prosecutors said. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)
A Fort Bliss soldier was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing an underage family member, Army prosecutors said.
Pvt. Alex Moon, 28, pleaded guilty during his court-martial held Dec. 19 before Military Judge Lt. Col. Mathew Rick. The judge also sentenced Moon to a dishonorable discharge.
“My client wanted to own up and take responsibility for what he did,” said Justin Scheider, an attorney for Moon.
Moon, who enlisted in October 2019, was an infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss in west Texas, according to the Army. He was being held Monday at the Otero County Prison in New Mexico awaiting transfer to a military prison, according to the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, which prosecuted the case.
Once released, Moon must register as a sex offender.
In an unsworn statement read in court, Moon apologized to his victim and described his behavior as a terrible mistake that will haunt him for the rest of his life. To move forward, he said he will take advantage of behavioral health programs in prison.
“My shame and regret constantly remind me of a person I never wanted to be nor will be again,” he said, according to a written copy of the statement.
The sexual abuse occurred against a girl younger than 16 years old between Feb. 1 and March 31, 2023, while Moon was stationed at Fort Bliss, according to his charge sheet. Moon touched the girl in a sexual manner and recorded a video of her without her consent and at a time that she had a reasonable expectation of privacy, according to the charge sheet.
The abuse came to light after Moon’s spouse saw concerning photos and a video of the victim on the soldier’s phone and reported it to military law enforcement, according to prosecutors. While speaking with a licensed social worker, the victim stated Moon had inappropriately touched her.
Moon, who first arrived at Fort Bliss in August 2021, admitted to agents with the Army Criminal Investigation Division to taking the video as well as inappropriately touching the victim.
“The outcome of this court-martial is not only about holding the accused accountable for his actions but also about sending a powerful message that this type of misconduct will not be tolerated in the Army,” Capt. Christopher Deisenroth, lead prosecutor on the case, said in a statement. “We understand the punishment cannot undo the harm that has been done to the survivor, but we hope it may be a first step in the overall healing process.”
