Former Simi Valley High School coach was sentenced to 16 months in prison for having sex with three underage girls dating back to 1998.
The Judge had no choice but to impose that sentence on former girls assistant softball coach Michael Patrick Burgmeier because it was a plea agreement that had been hammered out by prosecutors and Burgmeier's lawyer, Jane Winston of Encino.
A woman who told the judge she was the mother of victim number two said Burgmeier was a sexual predator who betrayed the trust of families and his victims.
The father of victim number two said Burgmeier was molesting his child starting when she was 8 years old and continued until last October when he was arrested.
Burgmeier was facing up to four years and four months in prison, but it was changed to 16 months.
The office considered many factors, including the facts surrounding this case, the number of victims and that this would drag on for many years in the justice system. Also she said the victims would have had to testify in court against Burgmeier, and there is now closure on this case.
Burgmeier, 41, of Simi Valley pleaded guilty in June in Ventura County Superior Court to one count each of oral copulation on a 14-year-old girl, lewd acts on a second girl who was 14 or 15 at the time, and oral copulation on a minor under age 18. All the charges are felonies.
Burgmeier will serve 50 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. He must also register as a sex offender and pay more than $6,000 as restitution.
If you have been charged with sex crimes, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney
Robert Helfend has been practicing law since 1984 and may be your best chance at a favorable outcome.
Contact his law office today to review your case.