Pullman, Washington A 25-year-old Pullman man has entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of engaging in immoral communication with a juvenile.
In Whitman County District Court, Alexander Palenzuela entered a guilty plea to the charge on Friday. When Palenzuela sent a picture of his penis to a 13-year-old girl through Facebook Messenger in May, he was first charged with a felony. In the plea agreement, prosecutors lowered the charge, pointing to Palenzuela’s prompt accountability. At the court on Friday, he expressed his regret to the victim.
In deciding this case, District Court Commissioner Judge Roger Sandberg agreed with the state’s and defense’s recommended sentences. Palenzuela was put on two years of probation by Judge Sandberg, who also mandated that he complete a psychiatric sexual evaluation, follow all treatment recommendations, and register as a sex offender for ten years. He is also prohibited from having unsupervised contact with a minor as a result of the sentencing. Palenzuela has never been convicted of a crime. The Pullman Police Department looked into the case.
