Repeat sex offender sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for sexual coercion of a child

A Duluth, Minn., repeat sex offender has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson.

Dillon Alvan Reyna, 33, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan to 264 months of imprisonment for targeting a minor in a Duluth park in October 2022, and subsequently coercing her to have sex with him.

Court documents state that Reyna knew the 16-year-old victim was particularly vulnerable, as she was receiving care for prior sexual abuse. For months, Reyna used multiple coercive techniques to manipulate the minor victim into having sex with him, by giving the victim gifts and rides that were conditioned on her sexual cooperation. Reyna also used physical force during sex and filmed the sex without the minor victim’s knowledge. Reyna used social media accounts to communicate with the minor victim.

The U.S. attorney’s press release states that Reyna’s conduct was halted by law enforcement, who tracked the minor victim to Reyna’s apartment building. When confronted by law enforcement, Reyna lied, falsely claiming he had never met the minor victim. Reyna had instructed the minor victim to lie to the police. However, the minor victim disclosed the abuse she suffered at Reyna’s hand to law enforcement. From jail, Reyna later told an associate to delete various social media accounts in an effort to cover up his crimes against the minor victim, but his attempts at obstruction were unsuccessful.

Reyna previously admitted guilt for a separate sex offense in 2021 in St. Louis County for third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion. He had been given a stay of adjudication by the court in that case.

In handing down the sentencing, United States Judge Bryan noted the aggravating circumstances surrounding this case.

“No parent should have to wonder if their child is safe at a park,” said Thompson. “Yet here, a repeat sex offender in his 30s targeted and picked up a vulnerable child from a Duluth park—a child who had already endured abuse. That is beyond appalling. We are seeing a disturbing rash of men in Minnesota attempting to buy or coerce sex from children. Let me be clear: it is predatory, it is criminal, and it will be met with the full force of federal prosecution. We will not allow offenders to turn our parks and neighborhoods into hunting grounds for children.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office commended the bravery of the victim in this case, saying that without her courage, Reyna would still be on the streets, a threat to abusing more children.

Reyna will be required to serve 85% of his sentence incarcerated before becoming eligible for parole. His period of incarceration will be followed by 15 years supervised release.

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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.

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