A Palm Coast resident has been sentenced to life in prison plus 35 years for the sexual battery of an 11-year-old girl in St. Johns County. The sentencing occurred this week for Ali Moreno, who was convicted in April after a jury found him guilty of multiple charges related to the case.
The jury convicted Moreno of two counts of sexual battery on a person under age 12. Additional convictions included traveling to meet a minor, soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer services while misrepresenting his age, promoting a sexual performance by a child, possession of child sexual abuse images, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
St. Johns County deputies arrested Moreno in October 2024. Investigators stated that he was 21 years old at the time and used Snapchat to portray himself as a 15-year-old boy. He allegedly groomed the child and then picked her up near a bus stop. Investigators say he subsequently drove the victim to another location where the assault took place.
During the investigation, detectives identified several additional victims from across the Seventh Judicial Circuit. State Attorney R.J. Larizza noted in a news release that Moreno had groomed and assaulted these other individuals as well.
Following the sentencing, Larizza issued a statement regarding the outcome. "Another sexual predator gone from our community for good," Larizza said. He added that prosecutors fight every day so families are safe, describing the protection of the public as their mission, duty, and privilege.
