Press Release: People v. Nielsen, Michael Anthony, 6/3/10

June 03, 2010
Bradford R. Fenocchio

District Attorney

PLACER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

10810 Justice Center Drive, Suite 240
Roseville, California 95678

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: June 3, 2010

Contact:

Art Campos

Public Information Officer

916-543-8076

Scott Owens

Assistant District Attorney

916-543-8000

MAN WHO SENT LEWD PHOTO TO TEENAGE GIRL IS SENTENCED TO NINE MONTHS IN PLACER JAIL

A 36-year-old Olivehurst man was given nine months in jail Wednesday as part of a four-year probation sentence for sending a sexually explicit photo to a 15-year-old Auburn girl.

Michael Anthony Nielsen was sentenced by Placer County Superior Court Judge Robert P. McElhany, who also ordered him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and prohibited him from living within a quarter of a mile from elementary schools and of being within 100 yards of places where children congregate.

Prosecutor Todd Kuhnen of the Placer County District Attorney’s Office said Nielsen contacted the girl last summer through text messages and sent a lewd photo. When the girl’s father learned of it, he contacted the Placer County Sheriff’s Department.

Posing as the girl, sheriff’s detectives continued text messaging with Nielsen, who suggested meeting at a motel in Marysville for sex. Officers arrested him when he arrived at a store parking lot next to the motel, Kuhnen said.

“It’s my sincere hope that Mr. Nielsen will learn from this offense and never violate the law again,” Kuhnen said.

Judge McElhany ordered Nielsen to report to the Placer County jail on June 22 to begin serving his term. He credited him with having already served 57 of the 270 days.