Former Homeland Security Worker Receives 8-Year Sentence for Sexual Assault of Three Girls Aged Under 14.

former A Department of Homeland Security employee who molested three girls under the age of 14 in Southern California has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Terry Edward Keegan, 60, was convicted March 23 in Orange County Superior Court of one felony count of lewd acts upon a minor under the age of 14 plus one misdemeanor counting each of child nuisance, sexual battery, simple battery, and destruction or destruction. Hide evidence.

According to the Orange County Registerone of the alleged victims had been living with Keegan since she was four years old. The other two victims were her friends.

Announcing Keegan’s ruling Wednesday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Andre Mansurian said the former Homeland Security employee violated the girls’ trust.

Al-Mansourian said, “It turned out that the fox was guarding the chicken house, and there is no doubt that the defendant took advantage of the position of trust.”

Terry Keegan, 60, was found guilty March 23 in Orange County Superior Court of a felony charge of lewd acts upon a minor younger than 14.

One of the alleged victims – now a teenager – spoke in court on Wednesday and said she was “young and fragile” when the assault began.

She said, “I was young and fragile and she took advantage of me,” the Register reported. “We were children and the man who was supposed to protect us hurt us.”

The investigation ‘fell through the holes’, said Deputy District Attorney Juliette Oliver, including the shocking and disturbing revelations about Keegan’s penchant for young girls.

During the trial, the girl who was living with the man she called “Grampa” testified that he once stuck his tongue into her mouth while kissing her good night.

She was 12 at the time and said the incident lasted a second or two.

In court, she said of the incident that she “only remembers feeling uncomfortable… I didn’t know what to do or how to respond.”

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, the girl said he would kiss her goodnight every night, and they were mostly just tapping on the forehead.

Other times, he would kiss her on the lips.

In the end, she chose to pretend that the fellatio incident “didn’t happen” and that she decided not to tell her “grandmother” because she was worried it might end their relationship.

“I didn’t want her to be alone,” she said.

But after that night, the girl said she would always lower her head.

During the trial, the girl who was living with the man she called “Grampa” testified that he once stuck his tongue into her mouth while kissing her good night.

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, the girl said he would kiss her good night every night and they were mostly just tapping on the forehead.

In the end, the little girl chose to pretend the fellatio incident “didn’t happen” and that she had decided not to tell her “grandmother” because she was worried it might end their relationship.

Investigation that ‘fell through the holes’ according to Deputy District Attorney Juliette Oliver including disturbing revelations about Keegan’s inclination toward young girls

Police have been alerted to the situation involving the girl and her friend several times over the years, including in 2021 when the victim and her friends were there for spring break.

They said the 60-year-old made inappropriate comments about a girl and insisted she take her out to buy a swimsuit.

On several occasions, the victims also said they believed Keegan was filming them and other girls in the pool.

Before Easter in 2021, a friend of the girl who lives in the house said Keegan touched her buttocks and said the man made her feel uncomfortable.

That victim went to tell her mother, who later called the police.

She said he also made “inappropriate” comments about her body and breast size.

One of the most disturbing alleged encounters occurred when the girl who lived inside the house said she had found a… vibrator in his bedroom while she searches for scissors.

She was in the sixth grade and Keegan told her it was for an ex-girlfriend and he was keeping it for her, according to the deputy district attorney.

Keegan will, said the little girl inside their house He often reveals himself while walking around his bedroom, which was across from hers.

Once, in a hotel room, she said that the man in the bed next to her also masturbated.

While searching his home, officers found a copy of the criminal complaint along with a destroyed hard drive and flash drive

First Deputy District Attorney Juliette Oliver (right) and defense attorney Jay Morehead speak in court during Homeland Security Officer Terry Edward Keegan

He was charged in December 2021 but sealed due to his job.

However, on January 26, 2022, the charges were revealed and the officers executed a search warrant.

While searching his home, officers found a copy of the criminal complaint along with a destroyed hard drive and flash drive.

Prosecutors said they believe Keegan took photographs of the victims over the years.

According to the record, Mansourian said during the sentencing hearing: “One wonders what was on those hard drives.” The judge also said that the destruction of the hard drive is “a cloud over this case”.

Keegan was facing up to 22 years in prison, according to Deputy District Attorney Juliette Oliver.

In addition to working for the Department of Homeland Security, Keegan worked with the Transportation Security Administration and was a reserve deputy for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.