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

JUDGE FAILS TO ORDER SEX OFFENDER TO REGISTER

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that Martin Eshoff, 42, the former Pixar Animation Studios executive who was convicted of three counts of attempting to distribute lewd material to a minor, was sentenced Monday, July 23, 2007 before the Honorable Elliot Daum. The probation department had "strongly recommended" that the court order the defendant to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290, known as Megan’s Law. The court, however, failed to require the defendant to register.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "The public is very concerned about the safety of children in our community and we are disappointed that the court did not order the defendant to register as a sex offender and that the court previously reduced these charges from felonies to misdemeanors."

Eshoff, of Novato, was placed on formal probation for two years and sentenced to serve 60 days in county jail with the option to apply for electronic home confinement or the work furlough or work release programs. As part of the terms and conditions of his probation, Eshoff may not engage in real time internet communication with minors and must participate in sex offender treatment.

The sentencing is a result of Eshoff’s guilty pleas to the charges on May 15, 2007, after Judge Daum reduced them from felonies to misdemeanors. The prosecution had offered to dismiss two of the felony charges in return for Eshoff’s plea to one of the felony charges. Instead, the judge reduced all the charges to misdemeanors over the prosecutor’s objection. The prosecution could then only require that Eshoff plead to all counts charged.

Eshoff initiated sexually graphic conversations with a person he believed to be a 13 year old female who was actually a Petaluma Police Detective. Additionally, he sent images of himself masturbating and ejaculating via his webcam. Eschoff was arrested at his office during the service of a search warrant related to his online activity.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Staebell was assigned to this case and the sentencing was argued by Deputy District Attorney James Casey. Petaluma Police Department Lieutenant Matthew Stapleton investigated this case.