LOGAN — The former leader of a local charity organization has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing young children for years. Jorge A. Manan-Moreno, 53, was ordered to serve a term of 30 years to life after one of the victims called him a “psychopath.”
Manan-Moreno was sentenced Thursday, Jan. 16 in Logan’s 1st District Court. He previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony; and two counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
According to prosecutors, on June 12, 2023, Spanish Fork Police officers were contacted by a teenage boy. The victim told investigators how he and several other boys had been inappropriately touched by Manan-Moreno, a family/friend. The incidents took place at residences in Smithfield, Spanish Fork, Pleasant Grove, and Taylorsville.
The boy explained how all of the families were originally from Chile and often got together twice a month to socialize. Since Manan-Moreno and others lived several hours away, they would often spend the night at each other’s homes.
Court documents explained how the incidents occurred during the sleepovers, and involved the boys being molested and forced to perform sex acts with Manan-Moreno, while others were sleeping.
During Thursday’s sentencing, several of the victims and their family members spoke about the way their lives were destroyed by Manan-Moreno’s actions. They explained how he had also been convicted of a similar crime in Chile, where he molested a 13-year-old boy while on a school trip.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Joshua Nemeth was emotional following the testimonies. He said the defendant didn’t deserve to ever see the light of day as a free man, describing how there were likely many more victims that have never come forward.
Manan-Moreno was seen wiping his eyes with a tissue during the hearing. He apologized to the victims, while calling himself a “traitor, pedophile, and monster.” He pleaded for a chance to show the court that he can change, saying that he didn’t deserve to be free but he did deserve to live.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck told Manan-Moreno that he was sick and the very worst of society. She expressed doubt as to whether or not the defendant can change, sentencing him to two consecutive terms of 15-years-to-life at the Utah State Correctional Facility.
Manan-Moreno was the director of the Catalina Lovy Foundation that reportedly would help low-income, underserved elderly people and people with disabilities. He was released by the organization days after his first arrest.