A Disturbing Repeat: San Ramon Man Charged Again with Online Sex Crimes

There's a palpable sense of disbelief, perhaps even frustration, sweeping through the community of San Ramon as Michael A. Lee, a 35-year-old resident, finds himself once again facing a litany of serious online sex crime charges involving minors. This latest development, unfolding in Contra Costa County, is particularly unsettling given his recent — and rather controversial — avoidance of state prison time in a strikingly similar case just a few years prior.

Authorities have, in February 2024, leveled four new felony counts against Lee. These aren't just minor infractions; we're talking about incredibly grave accusations: attempted sex trafficking of a minor, possession of child pornography, and communicating with a minor for a sexual offense. The weight of these charges alone is staggering, painting a deeply disturbing picture of alleged predatory behavior online.

What makes this situation truly resonate with a troubling echo is Lee's legal history. Back in 2021, an investigation spearheaded by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force led to charges in Santa Clara County. In that instance, Lee was accused of interacting with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl – who, thankfully, turned out to be an undercover officer. He had, according to court documents, arranged to meet this 'teenager' at a hotel. That case, involving felony child pornography possession and other sex-related crimes, concluded with a plea of no contest to sexual exploitation of a minor.

Now, here's where it gets complicated, and where many might raise an eyebrow or two. Despite the serious nature of those 2021 allegations, Lee managed to avoid a state prison sentence. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Mark H. Pierce accepted a plea deal that saw Lee serve 365 days in county jail – effectively time he'd already served – along with five years of probation. And get this: the prosecutor, clearly seeing the gravity of the situation, explicitly objected to this lenient outcome, advocating strongly for prison time. Yet, the judge allowed the deal to stand, a decision that, in hindsight, feels even more regrettable.

Fast forward to today, and Lee is now held without bail in a Contra Costa County jail, a stark contrast to his previous situation. He’s scheduled for arraignment on February 14th, where he'll formally answer to these fresh charges. The very fact that he’s back in this position, facing allegations that mirror his past conduct so closely, highlights a system that, for some, might feel like it fell short the first time around.

For a community like San Ramon, where Lee was once a volunteer football coach for the youth team, the San Ramon Bears, these repeated allegations are nothing short of a shock. It's a sobering reminder that vigilance is always necessary, and that the fight against online exploitation is a continuous, uphill battle, sometimes fraught with difficult outcomes and second chances that, perhaps, shouldn't have been granted.