Prosecutors: Illegal alien raped, molested, exploited 'multitude of children' from 3 to 16

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Web reporter Q13 Fox News Online
3:42 p.m. PST, January 27, 2012
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EVERETT—

Bail was set at $1 million Friday for a 39-year-old illegal alien who prosecutors said raped, molested and sexually exploited a "multitude of children" varying in age from 3 to 16 over many years in Snohomish apartment.

The defendant, Enrique Sanchez-Leon appeared Friday in Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett via video. He wsa charged with four counts of child rape, two counts of child molestation, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. But prosecutors said more charges may be filed as they are able to interview more victims.

In court documents, prosecutors said Sanchez-Leon confessed to being a child rapist and child pornographer. "Defendant gained access to this victims by offering his services as a babysitter, by passing himself off as a professional photographer, and by obtaining the trust of his friends, some of whom left their children in his care," prosecutors said.

"The multitude of children sexually exploited by defendant varied in age from 3 years to 16 years old. Defendant catalogued his abuse of children by assiduously photographing and videotaping his sexual domination of them," the document said.

"To date, investigators have found on one computer hard drive alone what they believe to be tens of thousands of images of defendant sexually exploiting children," it said.

Police had confiscated about 30 computers and 60 external hard drives from his apartment as part of a child pornography investigation.

The document noted that onNew Year's Eve 2011, police became aware of the suspected criminal conduct when the family of two sisters, age 5 and 8, told their family they had been sexually abused by Sanchez-Leon.

Prosecutors said Sanchez-Leon is in the country illegally, although his native country was not disclosed. And they asked for sexual assault protection orders for eight girls.

Prosecutors said other of his alleged victims became known to him through his ex-girlfriend or stepson. One of the alleged victims, prosecutors said, was an 8-year-old relative of Sanchez-Leon, who was seen in photos in sexual poses with the defendant's then-girlfriend.

Police said Sanchez-Leon admitted to the sex acts with the two young sisters and allegedly said he also took pornographic pictures of a 3-year-old and 16-year-old.

In court documents, the 5-year-old and 8-year-old sisters detailed the alleged abuse in their own words, saying it usually happened after he bathed them and promised them chocolate milk or candy. They said they were sworn to secrecy.

Prosecutors: Illegal alien raped, molested, exploited 'multitude of children' from 3 to 16 years old - KCPQ