District Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography And First-Degree Sexual Abuse of Girl

            WASHINGTON – Rolando de la Rocha, 42, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to one charge of production of child pornography and another charge of first-degree child sexual abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent H. Cohen, Jr.

            De la Rocha pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Honorable James E. Boasberg scheduled sentencing for Dec. 2, 2015. The child pornography charge, a federal offense, carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years. First-degree child sexual abuse, a District of Columbia offense, carries a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison. Both charges also carry potential financial penalties. De la Rocha also will be required to register as a sex offender for at least 25 years.

            According to the government’s evidence, de la Rocha was the former boyfriend of the girl’s mother, and had lived with the family in Northwest Washington until January 2014. In May of 2015, the girl’s mother called the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to report that she had discovered a recording in which de la Rocha is seen sexually assaulting her child. A subsequent examination of de la Rocha’s cellphone led to the discovery of videos depicting two such incidents.

            A warrant was issued for the defendant’s arrest, and de la Rocha was arrested on May 29, 2015. He admitted to police that he produced the recordings and said that he had set up an iPad to film the sexual acts in the girl’s room without her knowledge. The girl told police about several incidents that took place when she was 12 or 13, and that ended in 2013. She expressed a fear of talking to police but ultimately agreed to an interview about the defendant’s conduct.

            De la Rocha has been in custody since his arrest.

            In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen commended the work of the officers and detectives who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department, including those from the Third District and the Youth Investigations Division. He also expressed appreciation for the work of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea L. Hertzfeld, who is prosecuting the case.