Former Youth Leader at Gaithersburg Church Sentenced to 40 Years on Child Sex Abuse Charges

The former youth leader at Gaithersburg’s Covenant Life Church was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday for sexually abusing boys who attended the church’s functions.

Nathaniel Morales PHOTO | Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office

Daniel Morales, 56, will likely spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced by Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Terrence J. McGann. Morales was found guilty of multiple counts of sex abuse charges in two back-to-back trials in May involving four victims. The abuses occurred in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

“Sexual predators of young boys are unacceptable in our society.  Using his position as teacher, singer and youth mentor as well as his purported faith as leverage against kids as young as 11 years-old; Mr. Morales stole the innocence of these children and ruined their sense of trust for life,” said Ramon Korionoff, Public Affairs Director for the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. “Today, justice is served and now Daniel Morales will likely have the rest of his life in prison to think about how he ruined the lives of these four boys – now grown men.”

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

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