Duluth (trfnews.i234.me) – A Duluth man with a history of sexual offenses has been sentenced to more than two decades in federal prison for coercing and exploiting a child he met at a city park.
33-year-old Dillon Alvan Reyna was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court to 264 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.
Prosecutors said Reyna met the victim, who was under 16, at a Duluth park in October 2022. The child was already receiving care following prior abuse, which Reyna knew when he targeted her. He lured her with gifts and rides, then forced sexual activity, recorded assaults, and used social media to maintain contact.
The abuse was uncovered when law enforcement tracked the victim to Reyna’s apartment. He initially denied knowing her and pressured the child to lie. From jail, he directed an associate to delete his social media accounts in an attempt to hide evidence. Investigators recovered the material, and the victim disclosed the abuse.
Court records show Reyna had a prior conviction in 2021 in St. Louis County for third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force. He received a stay of adjudication but reoffended within a year.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said Reyna’s actions highlighted the threat repeat offenders pose. “No parent should have to wonder if their child is safe at a park,” Thompson said. “This conduct was predatory and criminal, and it will be met with the full force of federal prosecution.”
The judge cited aggravating factors, including Reyna’s use of force, the victim’s vulnerability, repeated assaults, and the secret recordings. He emphasized the lasting harm caused by creating video evidence of abuse.
The FBI, the Duluth Police Department, and the Hermantown Police Department investigated the case. Prosecutors credited the victim’s courage in speaking out, saying her disclosure ensured Reyna could no longer harm other children.
For more information on federal child exploitation laws, visit the U.S. Department of Justice.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
