Fort Morgan Police provide an update on Child Sex Offender case

The Fort Morgan Police Department received a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) regarding 34-year-old Richard Lara involving child pornography. A search warrant and an arrest warrant were executed on June 3, 2026, and Lara was arrested on 1 charge of Sexual Exploitation of a Child and was advised by a judge later that afternoon. He was given a $50k cash/surety bond at advisement.

This case is ongoing and may lead to further charges.

Richard Lara is a registered sex offender with a 2017 conviction for a similar crime.

*All charges are simply accusations by law enforcement, and all parties must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

*****Case Update*****

Richard Lara, a previously convicted Child Sex Offender who completed probation in 2017 for a similar crime, appeared in District Court on June 4, 2026, after a plea agreement had been reached.

The judge denied the plea agreement after it stipulated a sentence of 2 years in the Department of Corrections followed by 2 years of probation. 

On July 2, 2026, Lara appeared again in District Court after a different plea agreement was reached. Again, the judge denied the agreement.

On August 21, 2026, the court accepted a plea agreement in this case that included a guilty plea to additional counts:

* Criminal Mischief (F5)

* Sexual Exploitation of a Child (F5)

Lara was sentenced consecutively on these charges with a 4-year sentence to the Department of Correction (2-year mandatory parole) for the Criminal Mischief charge and 6 years of intensive supervised probation for the Sexual Exploitation of a Child. Lara was credited with 445 days served for his pre-sentence jail time.