Manchester Man Enters Plea In Federal Child Porn Case, Still Being Held On State Charges

MANCHESTER, CT — A Manchester man being held on $800,000 in bonds related to state child pornography cases in Manchester and Vernon has entered a plea in a related federal case.

David X. Sullivan, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Hernan Ayala, 33, of Manchester, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty Tuesday in Hartford federal court to child exploitation offenses related to "his sexual abuse of a minor."

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2024, the Manchester Police Department received a complaint that an underage girl had been sexually abused by Ayala. The girl reported that Ayala had engaged in sexual conduct with her for more than eight years, and that Ayala had recorded his sexual abuse of her on his cellphone, according to case records.

On that date, investigators searched Ayala's residence and seized several electronic devices, including his iPhone, case records show. Analysis of the seized phone revealed numerous videos and images of Ayala engaging in sexual conduct with the girl, according to case records.

Ayala pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, and to one count of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years and a maximum term of 30 years.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver on Sept. 30.

Ayala has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 9, 2024 and is scheduled for a court appearance in the Manchester cases on Aug. 19, judicial system records show.

On March 9 a year ago, Manchester police charged Ayala with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of illegal sexual contact. His bond in the case is $500,000. On April 17, first-degree possession of child pornography (50 or more depictions) and evidence tampering were levied on him. Ayala's bond in that case is $300,000.

Vernon police served Ayala a warrant the following day charging him with 20 counts of first-degree and fourth-degree sexual assault and 20 counts of risk of injury to a child and illegal sexual contact. His bond in the Vernon case is another $500,000 and he is slated for a remote hearing on Aug. 8

The girl is listed as 16 in Manchester arrest records, which would make her about 8 years old when the offenses began.