Child molester pleads guilty

After several continuations, including second thoughts about a guilty plea, Moses Wungnema admitted Tuesday to molesting a child under the age of 14 years.

Wungnema, 30, was arrested April 19 after police received reports from a mother that he had forced sexual acts on her 8-year-old daughter. He was awakened at his home in the 900 block of North Saliman Road and taken to jail, where he is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The victim told investigators Wungnema had committed the abuse on several occasions. He was originally charged with sexual assault, then given the option of a guilty plea to unlawful sexual penetration, which he declined.

Wungnema's abuse of the girl came out when she and her mother approached their pastor and then went to the sheriff's department with the charges. The pastor is believed to have consulted with Wungnema while he was being interviewed. Wungnema reportedly confirmed during the interview that the girl's version of the story was true.

At a previous hearing, Wungnema said he was pleading guilty in part because he didn't want the victim to have to take the witness stand at a trial.

As part of a plea agreement, the District Attorney's office agreed not to prosecute other crimes that could arise out of Wungnema's relationship with the girl.

Wungnema will be sentenced on Sept. 26.