A Skagit County man, Alan Lewis Meirhofer, aged 72, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for receiving and possessing images of child sexual abuse. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court in Seattle, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.
Meirhofer is a repeat violent sex offender who was previously committed to the McNeil Island sexual predator detention facility for seventeen years. He was arrested in 2021 after being found with images of child sexual abuse. During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John H. Chun remarked on the severity of the crimes: “This case involves very serious, terrible, and heartbreaking crimes.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Miller highlighted how Meirhofer adapted his behavior following his release from civil commitment: “He exploited children via the internet.” Over two years, there were 14 cyber tips to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) due to his activities on platforms like Google and Instagram.
Court records reveal that Meirhofer befriended teenage boys in Skagit County by inviting them to his residence and offering gifts such as food, clothing, alcohol, cash, and marijuana. A teen discovered inappropriate images on Meirhofer’s phone which led to police involvement and his subsequent arrest in March 2021.
Investigations uncovered that Meirhofer received and shared child sexual abuse material while administering a Telegram group focused on sharing such content and coordinating relationships between adults and minors. Investigators also found communications with minors whom he was grooming.
Meirhofer's criminal history dates back to 1988 when he was convicted of burglary, kidnapping, and rape involving minors. In 1990 he faced further convictions for armed burglary and assault. He was civilly committed in 2000 but released in 2017 as a level three registered sex offender.
Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson argued for a 15-year sentence stating: “Meirhofer comes before this Court for sentencing like no other defendant... Decades of incarceration did not deter him from sexually exploiting children at the first opportunity provided.”
The case forms part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation launched in May 2006.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the FBI, Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Bellingham Police Department, and Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson is prosecuting the case.
