| For Immediate Release Case # 03WF1710 & 07CF3070 March 25, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MALE ATTORNEY SENTENCED FOR MOLESTING
TWO TEEN BOYS AFTER MEETING ONE ON THE INTERNET AND BEFRIENDING THE OTHER’S FAMILY
SANTA ANA – A 37-year-old male attorney was sentenced today to three years in state prison for molesting a 14-year-old Orange County boy he met on the Internet and a 13-year-old Virginia boy he befriended. Jeffrey Ray Nielsen, Ladera Ranch, pleaded guilty December 7, 2007 to one felony count of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14 and one felony count of lewd acts upon a child between 14 and 15.
California Victim:
In March 2003, Nielsen met the California victim on a gay Internet site and agreed to meet in person. On March 30, 2003, the defendant picked up the California victim and drove to his Ladera Ranch condominium, where they engaged in oral copulation. The victim told Nielsen that he was 15 years old. The California victim was actually 14 years old. Over the next four weeks, Nielsen met the California victim on two additional occasions, each time engaging in oral copulation. The California victim, a freshman in high school, told a high school friend about the relationship. The friend alerted school authorities, who called the police.
Nielsen was arrested by Westminster Police in May of 2003. The police found thousands of images of child pornography on his home computer, lap top, and work computer at his law firm. Unfortunately, the jury could not reach a verdict in a trial in March 2007. The Orange County District Attorney obtained new evidence, including confessions made by Nielsen to two of his prior roommates. The witnesses were ready to testify that the defendant admitted to details of the sex acts, as well as his knowledge of the California victim’s age.
Virginia Victim:
In July of 1994, Nielsen brought a 13-year old boy from Virginia to California to visit his family in Fountain Valley. Nielsen had befriended the boy while Nielsen was living at the victim’s parent’s home in Virginia. During the two weeks, Nielsen molested the boy including engaging in oral copulation. Nielsen had repeatedly molested the boy for over a year and a half prior to bringing the boy out to California. Two of the Virginia victim’s boyhood friends were ready to testify that they had witnessed Nielsen kiss and fondle the Virginia victim.