Repeat sex offender sentenced for having images of child sexual abuse
Jun 2, 2025, 2:33 PM | Updated: 3:32 pm
A 72-year-old man from Skagit County was sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing images of child sexual abuse, (Photo Credit: 成人X站 7)
(Photo Credit: 成人X站 7)
A repeat sex offender was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison in U.S. District Court in Seattle for receipt and possession of images of child sexual abuse.
Alan Lewis Meirhofer, 72, pleaded guilty to the charges in March.
At one point, he was civilly committed to the McNeil Island sexual predator detention facility for 17 years.
鈥淭his case involves very serious, terrible, and heartbreaking crimes,鈥� U.S. District Judge John H. Chun said at Monday鈥檚 sentencing hearing.
鈥淔ollowing his release from civil commitment, Mr. Meirhofer adapted his predatory behavior to modern technology,鈥� Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller said in a聽. 鈥淗e exploited children via the internet. In just over two years, there were 14 cyber tips to the (NCMEC) because of his sexual exploitation of minors via Google and Instagram.鈥�
Court records reveal that Meirhofer lured teenage boys in the Skagit County area to his home, offering gifts such as alcohol, cash, and marijuana. When one of the boys borrowed Meirhofer鈥檚 phone, he discovered photos of the teens that Meirhofer had sent to a group chat. The boy鈥檚 mother reported the incident to police, which led to Meirhofer鈥檚 arrest in March 2021. His electronic devices were seized as evidence.
Following the arrest, the FBI sought tips related to any internet accounts connected to Meirhofer. More than a dozen reports were received, leading to the discovery of images of child sexual abuse.
Meirhofer鈥檚 extensive criminal record
On July 17, 2024, Meirhofer was taken into federal custody.
He has an extensive criminal record, including convictions for burglary, kidnapping, and rape, according to the attorney鈥檚 office. In 1990, he was convicted of burglary with a deadly weapon. He was later civilly committed to the Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment Center on McNeil Island, but was released in 2017 as a registered level 3 sex offender, a designation indicating a high risk of reoffending.
The investigation was conducted by the Skagit County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, Bellingham Police Department, FBI, and the Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney鈥檚 Office
