LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A navy choose sentenced a U.S. Air Power lieutenant colonel to 12 and a half years of confinement for intercourse crimes towards a toddler, in a case relationship again to 3 years whereas he was capable of preserve his navy job.
Lt. Kevin DiFalco is not going to solely be behind bars now, however he will even be stripped of his navy profession and wage.
The 8 Information Now Investigators first reported on his arrest in 2022.
Las Vegas Metro police stated DiFalco groomed and repeatedly raped a toddler. Two months after his arrest, the case was turned over to the navy. He saved his navy job till his trial concluded on Wednesday.
DiFalco was discovered responsible of seventeen offenses, by committing sexual assault of a kid, sexual assault, indecent publicity, perjury, conduct unbecoming of an officer, indecent conduct, and receiving youngster pornography, in accordance with the general public affairs workplace at Nellis Air Power Base, the place DiFalco labored.
He violated six guidelines, also called articles, that members of the navy are required to comply with by way of the Uniform Code of Navy Justice, the general public affairs workplace stated.
His sentence contains dismissal from the Air Power, complete forfeitures of pay and allowances, and a reprimand.
The offenses have been dedicated in or close to Las Vegas, San Antonio, Texas, and Fort Collins, Colorado, in accordance with the general public affairs workplace.
DiFalco initially confronted seven counts of lewdness with a toddler underneath 18 and one depend of kid abuse or neglect within the Las Vegas Justice Courtroom.
After his case was moved to the navy, it seemed to be positioned on an Air Power trial docket, then faraway from the docket to be addressed by way of a navy administrative course of, after which positioned again on the trial docket.
The trial lasted two weeks, in accordance with data.
“The Air Force takes allegations of sexual assault and misconduct very seriously while also ensuring members retain their right to a fair trial,” a information launch acknowledged.
An arrest report referred to DiFalco, a navy commander on the time, sexually assaulting the kid sufferer a number of instances.
The report acknowledged DiFalco instructed the kid “not to say anything.”
DiFalco and the kid sufferer spoke usually on Snapchat, a messaging utility the place images and messages disappear, in accordance with police.
The allegations grew to become identified after a person got here ahead to the Las Vegas Metro police, the report acknowledged. The individual reporting the allegations stated that they had tried to inform an out-of-state police company final yr, however that “the case was closed.”
The individual reporting the allegations additionally famous a definite tattoo in DiFalco’s groin space, which investigators corroborated within the report.
DiFalco was the commander of the 57th Operations Assist Squadron and an F-16 pilot assigned to Nellis Air Power Base. He was relieved from command, however he remained on energetic obligation in a management position at Nellis AFB, a spokesperson stated. DiFalco served within the Thunderbirds program till June 2021 and was commissioned in January 2005.
Most just lately, DiFalco served as a Workers Officer within the 57th Operations Group, in accordance with a Nellis AFB spokesperson.
To succeed in investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, e mail [email protected].
