Jury finds SLO County man guilty of sexually abusing 3 children

Oct. 20—A jury found a Santa Margarita man guilty Wednesday of molesting three children.

Michael Anthony Brians, 60, was convicted on eight counts of felony sex crimes against three minor children in San Luis Obispo Superior Court, according to a news release from the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

Two other victims testified that Brians sexually abused them when they were children, though charges were not filed in those cases because the statute of limitations had expired, according to the release.

The testimony from these victims was permitted as prior instances of sexual abuse under the California law, the release said.

The five victims were abused during a time period spanning from 1983 to 2016, the District Attorney's Office said.

"We thank the jury for their efforts in this sensitive and emotional case," District Attorney Dan Dow said in the release. "The survivors demonstrated remarkable courage by reporting the crimes which encouraged other survivors to come forward.

"We commend these women for their strength to testify and their support which was necessary to bring this predator to justice. This conviction should encourage other survivors of sexual assault to report the conduct to law enforcement."

Brians faces up to life in prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

He's scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 13 at Superior Court.

___

(c)2021 The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

Visit The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) at www.sanluisobispo.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.