A federal judge last week sentenced a Sacramento County man for arranging a meeting to have sex with a 10-year-old girl when he was caught in undercover operation targeting sexual predators.
Last Tuesday, U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez sentenced Mark Sigl, 63, of Antelope, to 10 years in prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento. On July 1, Sigl pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
The March 2024 undercover operation called “Spring Cleaning” was conducted by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and its Internet Crimes Against Children team. The investigators, as part of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, focus on crimes relating to the sexual exploitation of children throughout Northern California.
Sigl believed he was communicating with the father of a 10-year-old girl, but it was an undercover officer posing as this father. Prosecutors said Sigl expressed his desire to perform sex acts on the child and planned to meet this father and his child at a designated location to do so.
When Sigl arrived, investigators arrested him. Prosecutors said investigators found several sex items in Sigl’s parked vehicle.
On Monday, sheriff’s officials said investigators are concerned there may be unreported victims and asked that any parents with children who may have interacted with Sigl to call the Sheriff’s Office at 916-874-5115.
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Rosalio Ahumada writes breaking news stories related to crime and public safety for The Sacramento Bee. He speaks Spanish fluently and has worked as a news reporter in the Central Valley since 2004.