Northside daycare employee produced child pornography victimizing a four year old
INDIANAPOLIS - United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced the sentencing of an Indianapolis man after being convicted in February 2016, on four child pornography charges. Ali Al-Awadi, 22, Indianapolis, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt to 27 years imprisonment.
“I want to thank and commend the victim and her family for standing up and bravely confronting this child molester on the day she was victimized and again two years later in a federal courthouse," said Minkler. “While no sentence will bring back the innocence or relieve the pain she suffered, her brave deeds undoubtedly saved more children that would have been victimized by the defendant. I would encourage anyone victimized by a child molester to immediately report the crime to law enforcement."
Al-Awadi worked as a day care provider at Children’s Choice Learning Center at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. While caring for several children, he molested a four year old girl while she was napping and took several sexually explicit photos of her on his cell phone. She testified at trial that he fondled her and hurt her.
This case was investigated by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. U. S. Attorney Minkler was especially grateful to Detectives Grant Melton and Eli McAllister for their dedication and professionalism in assisting with the prosecution of this case.
Al-Awadi has also been charged by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office with on one count of child molesting, a level three felony. He faces an additional sentence of up to 16 years if convicted of that charge.
Minkler further reminded all individuals that Indiana’s law is very clear about reporting requirements when child abuse of any kind is suspected. If you suspect a child has been or is being abused, contact your local police department immediately or call the Indiana Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-800-5556.
According to Assistant United States Attorneys Kristina Korobov and Bradley Shepard who prosecuted this case for the government, Al-Awadi faces 15 years of supervised release after his sentence.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
