Manchester Man Pleads Guilty To Child Sexual Exploitation

Thursday, July 10, 2025, 10:45  A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

HARTFORD, CT.-  A 33-year-old Manchester, Connecticut, man will be facing up to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in Federal Court in Hartford, Connecticut, on Tuesday to child exploitation offenses in connection with the years-long sexual abuse of a child, beginning when the child was eight years old.

     According to U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Hernan Ayala, 33, of Manchester, Connecticut, who has been detained since his arrest on March 9, 2024 on related state charges, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Vernon D. Oliver to one count of Possession of Child Pornography; and one count of Production of Child Pornography.

     Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Oliver accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for September 30, 2025. At that time, Ayala, on the charge of possession of child pornography, faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison, at least five years, and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. On the charge of production of child pornography, Ayala will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

     At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offenses and Ayala’s prior criminal history.

According To The Charging Information Filed With The Court

     According to the charging information filed with the District Court, in March 2024, the Manchester Police Department received a report that Ayala had sexually abused a minor girl. The girl reported that Ayala had engaged in sexual conduct with her for more than eight years, and during that time, Ayala recorded his sexual abuse of her on his cellular phone. 

     Following the report, Investigators obtained and executed a court-authorized search warrant at Ayala’s Manchester’s home. During the search, Investigators seized several electronic devices, including his iPhone. A forensic examination of his phone uncovered numerous video files and digital images depicting Ayala engaging in unlawful sexual acts with the girl.

     U.S. Attorney Sullivan commended the investigative work by Homeland Security Investigations and the Manchester Police Department, with assistance from the Glastonbury Police Department and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigation, which led to Ayala’s guilty plea on Tuesday.