Long-Haul Truck Driver Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Sex Abuse of a Child

PORTLAND, OR—On Monday, November 22, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown sentenced Alexander Lukashov, 36, of Portland, Oregon, to serve 30 years in federal prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Upon his release from prison, the defendant will be on supervised release for the rest of his life. The 30-year prison sentence was the mandatory minimum sentence required by law.

On July 20, 2010, a federal jury found the defendant guilty of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Testimony at trial showed that in February 2009, the defendant, a long-haul commercial truck driver, took the victim, an 8-year-old girl, with him on a cross-country trip. During that trip, the defendant repeatedly raped and sexually abused the young girl. The victim disclosed the abuse to her mother after the defendant brought her back home. The details of the abuse were outlined at trial and in the government’s sentencing memorandum. The defendant was arrested on federal charges on March 9, 2009, and indicted on federal charges on April 1, 2009. On July 13, 2010, the parties proceeded to trial and on July 20, 2010, the jury returned a guilty verdict on count one, aggravated sex abuse of a child.

During the sentencing hearing the victim asked the prosecutors read a statement to the court in which she explained how the crime adversely affected her “emotional and mental health” and had “ruined [her] life.” In imposing the sentence the court noted that it was imposing a sentence sufficient to ensure that neither the victim nor any other children would again be victimized by the defendant. As a condition of his supervision the defendant is prohibited from having any contact with minor children, must participate in a sex offender treatment program, and register as a sex offender.

After imposing the sentence the court specifically addressed the victim and complimented her on the courage and strength she showed in coming forward and testifying.

“The defendant’s crime was truly an offense that shocks the conscience and demanded a very lengthy prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton. “I applaud the Portland Police Bureau, CARES Northwest, the Oregon State Crime Lab, and the FBI for all their outstanding work that made this prosecution possible.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott M. Kerin and Jane H. Shoemaker.