A Washington State man faces a hefty jail sentence for sexually abusing a woman in an encounter captured on film and then forwarded to the victim.
Darius Morningstar Speedis, 20, will serve six years in jail, followed by ten years of supervised release, and must register as a sex offender for sexually abusing a 16-year-old female.
According to court filings, the girl did not recollect the incident until she saw a video that Speedis had taken of himself assaulting her.
Speedis, a Yakama Nation member, pleaded guilty to the charges in January as part of a deal with prosecutors, but the agreement he signed still called for life in prison.
The victim did not pursue compensation, and Judge Mary K. Dimke of the Eastern District of Washington waived all court fees when she sentenced Speedis, according to court documents.
According to court documents, the incident between Speedis and the victim happened in November 2022, after the two had spent the night drinking with a group of friends.
Speedis provided some of the booze that night, and after the group dispersed, he assaulted the victim while filming himself, according to court records.
The victim eventually destroyed the tape before providing a copy to law enforcement or prosecutors, and police reported that they were unable to recover the film.
Authorities did not arrest Speedis, who had a daughter in December 2023, until July of last year.
“Sexual violence has no place in any community, and it is especially devastating when it targets vulnerable victims and occurs within communities already impacted by an epidemic of abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. Speedis’ conduct and our unwavering commitment to seeking justice for victims of sexual assault.”