Press release:

Bryan Taylor, Canyon County Prosecutor, announced that Moises Mata, age 42, of Nampa, was sentenced on November 9, 2023, by the Honorable Gene A. Petty for the felony crime of Lewd Conduct with a Minor under Sixteen. Mata pled guilty in July of this year.

Judge Petty sentenced Mata to six (6) years fixed, followed by 19 years indeterminate, in the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction. The Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office recommended an imposed sentence of 15 years fixed followed by 25 years indeterminate. Mata’s defense attorney recommended that he be placed in the Retained Jurisdiction program, also known as a RIDER.

In addition to the prison term, Mata will be required to submit a DNA sample and a right thumbprint impression to the Idaho database. Judge Petty also ordered Mata to have no contact with the victim or any minor children for a period of 50 years. Mata was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and court costs.

Mata was arrested in April 2022 after confessing to sexually abusing a 5-year-old girl. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Petty spoke about the aggravating factors, including the age of the victim and his escalating behavior. Judge Petty also discussed factors in mitigation, including that this was his first adult felony conviction and that he took accountability. Judge Petty acknowledged the serious nature of the crime and the impact on the Victim.

“The actions of the defendant in this case were beyond reprehensible, and I’m thankful he is going to prison where he will be unable to prey on innocent children,” said Prosecutor Bryan Taylor. “I hope this sends the message that my office and our law enforcement partners will always fight to protect the most vulnerable in our community.”