The sentencing in a 2017 sexual abuse case has been postponed until August, after it was found the defendant had not been given a sexual offender evaluation by a doctor before appearing in Kanawha Circuit Court on Thursday.
Michael Ray Moles, Jr., 43, of Blout, had been indicted and pleaded not guilty in April 2018 on six counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or a person in position of trust; four counts of first-degree sexual abuse; two counts of first-degree sexual assault; and one count of distribution and exhibiting material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
He was accused of forcing sex and other sexual acts on a boy who was younger than 12 years old at the time.
Earlier this year, in February, Moles accepted a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in position of trust and one count of distribution and exhibiting material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct the following month.
As part of the plea agreement, Moles also has to register as a sex offender for life.
Before Judge Joanna Tabit, Moles’ attorney, Robby Long, advised Thursday that the disposition be continued to a different date in order to give his client more time to be thoroughly evaluated by a doctor.
Sentencing was rescheduled for 9 a.m. on Aug. 7.
