A 30-year-old Elmira man has been arraigned in Schuyler County Court on multiple felony charges involving alleged sexual conduct with children.
Kenneth Morales was arraigned Thursday on an indictment charging him with three counts of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child, a Class A-II felony. He is also charged with three counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class B felony, one count of Attempted Rape in the First Degree, a Class C felony, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class A misdemeanors.
According to prosecutors, Morales is accused of engaging in sexual conduct on multiple occasions with two children under the age of 13.
During the arraignment, Schuyler County District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan argued that the seriousness of the allegations, the potential length of a prison sentence if Morales is convicted, and the alleged harm to the children justified a significant bail amount.
Judge Matthew C. Hayden set bail at $500,000 cash, $1,000,000 insurance bond, or a $2.5 million partially secured surety bond.
If convicted, Morales faces up to 25 years to life in prison on the predatory sexual assault charges and up to 25 years on the criminal sexual act charges.
Morales is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by the Schuyler County District Attorney’s Office.
