If you or someone you know needs resources or support related to sexual violence, contact the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s 24/7 hotline at 800-871-7741.
A Texas soldier will serve 10 years in prison for sexually exploiting a Maine child.
Christopher Meza, 23, who was formerly stationed at Fort Hood, also will serve five years of supervised release and pay $16,650 in restitution, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker handed down the sentence to Meza on Friday in federal court in Bangor.
“It’s hard to put one’s mind to just how deeply disturbing the conduct was,” Walker said in announcing the sentence, calling Meza’s conduct “debased, deviant, depraved, and craven.”
Between February and December 2021, Meza interacted with the 13-year-old girl on a popular gaming platform. Their conversations included descriptions of sex as well as Meza’s acknowledgement of her age, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
Meza twice traveled from Texas to Maine to meet with the girl, who had by then turned 14, and on both occasions left the state with her, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
In a border patrol agent’s affidavit, the child reported that she had left her home, spent about two days in the woods waiting for Meza as he drove up from Texas, then left the state with him.
In their communications, the two discussed living together and getting married, the agent wrote in the affidavit.
Both Meza and the girl told investigators that they had sexual intercourse.
Meza was found guilty on Nov. 1, 2023, after a two-day jury trial of enticement of a child, traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
