Update: North County man sentenced to 100 years to life for sex crimes
Update posted Dec. 14, 2021
Brians guilty of eight felony sex crimes against three minor children
– Michael Anthony Brians, 61, a resident of Santa Margarita, was convicted by a San Luis Obispo County jury on Oct. 20, 2021, after investigators and victims testified about the details of his numerous sexual crimes against children committed between 1992 and 2016, according to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office. This week, Judge Jacquelyn H. Duffy ordered Brians to serve 100 years to life in state prison for the crimes.
Evidence presented at trial included witness testimony that the defendant began sexually abusing two children in 1988 when the defendant was only 23 years old. Although these earlier crimes were not able to be charged as separate crimes in this case due to the statute of limitations, these victims testified for the prosecution under a provision of the California Evidence Code section 1108. Further evidence proved that the defendant continued to sexually abuse three other children with the last crime occurring as recent as 2016.
“Crimes against children and vulnerable victims must be strongly punished,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “This life in prison sentence not only punishes this predator, but it also sends a strong message to others that you will be sought out, prosecuted and separated from society if you commit such horrific crimes. These survivors’ bravery will surely encourage others to report their own victimization.”
At today’s sentencing hearing, after Jane Doe #1’s emotional victim impact statement, Judge Duffy told her, “I hear you; I see you.” The judge went on to say, “I saw you testify bravely, strongly, courageously. …You became a strong advocate, a strong successful person and loving parent. …You are remarkable person, and you matter.” Victim impact statements from two other survivors were also read for the Judge’s consideration at the time of sentencing.
“We sincerely applaud the courage of the survivors who testified and the tenacity of the law enforcement personnel who gathered and reviewed all of the evidence,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa B. Muscari, who supervises the District Attorney’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Prosecution Unit. “These verdicts send a clear message that we will prosecute child sexual predators to the maximum extent of the law.”
This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Danielle Baker and was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation.
Original story posted Oct. 21, 2021
Santa Margarita resident Michael Anthony Brians faces life sentence for eight felony sex crimes
Santa Margarita resident Michael Anthony Brians faces life sentence for eight felony sex crimes– After a three-week-long jury trial, a San Luis Obispo County jury found Santa Margarita resident Michael Anthony Brians guilty of eight felony sex crimes against three minor children, according to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office. Two additional victims were allowed to testify about the defendant also abusing them when they were children for acts that were not able to be charged separately because the statute of limitations had expired. However, their voices were not silenced, and their testimony was allowed under Evidence Code section 1108 as a prior instance of sexual abuse. The sexual abuse of the five female survivors occurred as early as 1983 and as recently as 2016.
“We thank the jury for their efforts in this sensitive and emotional case,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “The survivors demonstrated remarkable courage by reporting the crimes which encouraged other survivors to come forward. We commend these women for their strength to testify and their support which was necessary to bring this predator to justice. This conviction should encourage other survivors of sexual assault to report the conduct to law enforcement.”
Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 13, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 1 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Jacquelyn H. Duffy presiding. Brians faces 90 years-to-life in state prison for his conviction.
The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office with the aid of the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Danielle Baker.
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