Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 07/25/07

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SENTENCING AND SEX REGISTRATION IN DATELINE STING CASE

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that Michael Shawn Vestal, 38, of Vallejo, was sentenced today after pleading no contest to attempting a lewd or lascivious act on a child under the age of fourteen. Vestal was arrested as a part of the Dateline NBC sting operation conducted in conjunction with the Petaluma Police Department. The Honorable Raima Ballinger placed Vestal on felony probation and sentenced him to serve 92 days in a work release program, but if it is denied he must serve 6 months county jail. The judge ordered Vestal to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "This case sends a message that our community will not tolerate those who would harm our children."

In the course of the Petaluma sting operation, Vestal engaged in graphic conversations of a sexual nature, and sent lewd photographs to a person he believed to be a thirteen year-old child. That person was actually an adult volunteer with an organization known as Perverted Justice. After discussing his desires to engage in sexual activity, Vestal made arrangements to go to the home of the alleged child. Vestal drove to the home and entered the property, ostensibly to meet the thirteen year-old, but after meeting Dateline NBC staff, he was arrested by the Petaluma Police Department.

Deputy District Attorney Juliette Olson was the prosecutor assigned to this case. Petaluma Police Detective Michael Pierre was the lead investigator and Petaluma Police Sergeant Matthew Stapleton headed up the sting operation.