Ex-teacher sentenced to at least 20 years in sex abuse case
A former Cheyenne teacher has been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a student whom he later adopted.
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports Joseph Meza was sentenced Friday after the judge heard statements from the victim and Meza’s family.
According to court testimony, Meza had sex with the girl between October 2015 and May 2016 when she was between 15 and 16.
Meza pleaded guilty in September to one count of sexual abuse of a minor, shortly after his trial got underway. In exchange, prosecutors dropped seven other counts.
The deal was reached after about three hours of testimony from the girl and her mother. The girl read messages she and Meza exchanged, many of about having sex or meeting for sex.
