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Olivehurst man gets 87 years for sexual assault

Appeal-Democrat - 5/2/2017

May 02--A Yuba County Superior Court judge sentenced an Olivehurst man to 87 years to life in prison Monday for the continuous sexual abuse of a child under 10.

Yuba County sheriff's deputies arrested Michael Angelo Triggs-Nunez, 26, last October. A jury found him guilty of all charges March 1. Between February 2014 and October of 2017, Triggs-Nunez had sexually abused a 7-year-old girl on multiple occasions, according to court documents.

Members of Triggs-Nunez's family spoke about his character and their belief that the acts he was found guilty of were impossible.

"Statements to the disbelief from family, while heartfelt, don't address how he should be sentenced under the law," said Judge Benjamin Wirtschafter. "Any of these acts in and of themselves call for a life sentence."

Triggs-Nunez also made a statement before sentencing.

"My whole life I've striven to be an outstanding citizen," Triggs-Nunez said. "I ask for you to find compassion in your heart."

But the mother of the young girl, in a letter read to the court by a Yuba County Victim Witness Services representative, asked for Triggs-Nunez to receive the maximum sentence.

"I trusted you, and you were a human monster to her, while God teaches us all to be forgiving and to have mercy that does not apply to you," the mother wrote to Triggs-Nunez in the letter. "You were given chances to tell the truth, but you opted to continue being a monster and a predator up until this date. You deserve to spend the rest of the remaining time you live behind bars repenting and admitting your crime, apologizing for your crime."

Wirtschafter additionally sentenced Triggs-Nunez to pay about $10,000 in fines, fees and reserved restitution.

Deputy District Attorney Shiloh Sorbello said the sentence is befitting of the crimes committed.

"The 7-year-old will live with this the rest of her life," he said. "She will carry that into every relationship she becomes involved in."

The mother's letter echoed Sorbello's statements.

"It is not fair she has to somewhat pay for his crimes in any way," the mother wrote.

Triggs-Nunez's lawyer, David Vasquez, said his client has adamantly declared his innocence since his arrest.

The defense filed a motion April 26 for a new trial, which the judge heard before sentencing Triggs-Nunez.

"I believe the defense's evidence was absolutely believable," Vasquez told the judge. "I do not believe there was significant evidence in this case."

Vasquez alleged there was juror misconduct, errors in evidence decisions, prosecutor misconduct and insufficiency of evidence.

Vasquez alleged the jury did not perform its duty because members arrived at a quick decision after a month-long trial.

"It is impossible to (believe) that the jury fairly considered all the evidence in that brief period of time," Vasquez wrote in his motion.

Wirtschafter denied the motion.

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(c)2017 the Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, Calif.)

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