Olympia Sex Predator Convicted of Child Pornography

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: In a chilling conviction, Michael T. Laursen, a 47-year-old resident of Olympia, Washington, has been found guilty of production and possession of child pornography following a bench trial in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. The charges stem from the exploitation of a vulnerable 16-year-old girl.

Laursen, a predator with a long history of manipulation, is accused of providing drugs to his victim and photographing her engaging in sexually explicit conduct. According to court records, the exploitation began when the victim was just 12 years old, a relation through family ties.

In 2012, after the girl turned 16, Laursen escalated his abuse by initiating a sexual relationship with her, supplying drugs, and encouraging her to skip school. His sickening behavior culminated in June and October of that year when he photographed his victim during intimate moments.

Laursen’s insidious actions didn’t end there; he coerced the girl into running away from home and provided her shelter in various motels and apartments, where he directed her to perform sexually explicit acts while snapping photographs. The court heard harrowing details of Laursen’s manipulation and exploitation during the trial.

The investigation was a collaborative effort by the Washington State Patrol-Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-South Sound Investigative Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Ye-Ting Woo and Special Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson prosecuted the case with vigor. Sentencing is scheduled for August 8, 2014, where Laursen faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 30 years in federal prison.

RELATED: Olympia Predator Laursen Gets 15 Years for Exploiting Teen