Michael Jones sentenced to 650 years in Sacramento sexual assault cases

Michael Jones received a sentence of 650 years to life in Sacramento prison court proceedings. The penalty follows his conviction on 16 counts of child sexual assault. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office announced the decision on Wednesday.

Officials said the 43-year-old man was sentenced on Oct. 15. A jury convicted him of the charges on Sept. 17. The case involved two young victims.

Jones committed hundreds of sexual acts against his first victim between the ages of 11 and 13. These acts included intercourse and sodomy. Aggravating factors of substantial sexual conduct and multiple victims were found true.

Jones began contact with the girl by grooming her. Officials said he “quickly progressed his conduct.” The victim disclosed the abuse to others.

Jones fled after the report. He hid from law enforcement in Sacramento for seven years. Jones stayed hidden successfully during that period.

Jones began sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl during that time, officials said. He assaulted her while evading police officers.

Jones will become eligible for release once he turns 65 years old. He must also serve 25 years of his sentence first. That review happens through an elder parole hearing.

He will face evaluation to determine if he is a sexually violent predator before any parole. An indeterminate commitment to a secure state hospital facility for psychiatric treatment follows if he meets that definition, officials said.

A sexually violent predator designation requires civil commitment proceedings under state law. State hospital facilities hold offenders deemed likely to engage in sexually violent criminal behavior. These evaluations take place before any scheduled parole hearings.

The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office handled the prosecution against Jones. State officials will oversee his upcoming evaluations.