Michael Avilez Espinoza, an East Wenatchee man arrested last year on charges of sexually assaulting a child, is facing federal charges for producing and sharing sexually explicit images with minors.
Police arrested Espinoza after he recorded himself engaging in sexual activity with a 12-year-old and 16-year-old victim. He has been in custody at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on a $300,000 bond since his arrest. In March, a federal indictment charged Espinoza with two counts each of production, distribution of child pornography, and online enticement. Douglas County prosecutors dismissed their case against him to make way for the federal charges. Espinoza and Kenneth R. Crisp were both charged with child rape and sexual exploitation of a 12-year-old victim in 2020. Crisp is set to stand trial in June for 13 felony counts. Espinoza was rearrested while out on bond for the Entiat 16-year-old sexual exploitation case in 2019.
Espinoza is still facing 17 state felony counts, including sexual exploitation of a minor, possession and distribution of child pornography, and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. His trial is scheduled for late June, and he was arraigned on Monday.