Former councilman Alan Moran takes plea deal before trial begins

Former Diamondhead Councilman Alan Moran pleaded guilty today in Hancock County Circuit Court in a sexual molestation case.

Moran, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of the four-count indictment before opening statements on Wednesday morning.

“Alan took a plea deal,” said his attorney, Donald Rafferty. “An opportunity came up that would allow him to be home with his family and with risk involved with going to trial, it was a smart move.”

Moran pleaded guilty to Count 2, child exploitation and Count 3, contributing to the delinquency or neglect of a minor. His sentencing is set for next Friday, February 16th.

The child exploitation charge carries a sentence of 5 to 40 years and a $50,000 to $500,000 fine. He also must register as a sex offender for a minimum of 15 years. The contributing to the delinquency charge  carries a sentence of no time to 1 year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

A civil suit related to the case is still pending.

The case began when Moran was arrested on misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident on February 14, 2022. Moran had hired a 17-year-old to work at his father’s pest control company and took the minor in a work truck that night to show him how to use the controls on a mosquito truck. While the two were in the truck, Moran allegedly gave the minor beer and then tried to grope the minor while he was driving.

The minor rebuffed Moran’s alleged advances and then texted his parents, asking them to meet him at Dolly’s on Highway 603 in the Kiln. When the minor drove in to Dolly’s, he took the keys from the truck and joined his parents. Moran was found hiding behind the convenience store and was taken into custody.

The charges were upgraded to those Moran faced in court when his case was bound over to a grand jury.