A California woman who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after a paying client died during a filmed fetish encounter was sentenced Monday to four years in prison.<\/p>\n
VISTA, Calif. (CN) \u2014\u00a0A woman who accidentally killed a man while filming fetish content for a popular social media site was sentenced to four years in prison in San Diego Superior Court on Monday.<\/p>\n
Michaela Rylaarsdam, 32, pleaded guilty last month<\/a> to one count of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2023 death 55-year-old Michael Dale, from Escondido.<\/p>\n Dale died as a result of suffocation after paying Rylaarsdam to perform fetish acts on him. These acts were meant to be published on Rylaarsdam\u2019s OnlyFans account,<\/a> a popular online subscription-based website commonly used to share online adult content.<\/p>\n Prosecutors say Dale\u2019s wrists were bound and a plastic bag was taped over his head for several minutes. Rylaarsdam ultimately called 911.<\/p>\n In an emotional statement to the family, Rylaarsdam fought through tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI was going back and forth as to whether I should say something, and if I would say the wrong thing,\u201d said Rylaarsdam, who was seated in a corner of the courtroom just out of sight of most of the audience. \u201cBut it would be a poor example to my children if I did not. When something bad happens, we need to take ownership.\u201d<\/p>\n Rylaarsdam said she was disappointed in herself after reading a letter she wrote to Dale\u2019s family a year ago. In it, she wanted to tell her side of the story. But that explanation was not appropriate, she said.<\/p>\n Rylaarsdam said she wished that she could change what happened.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018I\u2019m sorry\u2019 is not enough,\u201d said Rylaarsdam, who started therapy after the killing of Dale. \u201cThe desire to go back and undo this would be at the top. I have a million emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Dale\u2019s family was not in the courtroom, Rylaarsdam\u2019s husband and uncle were both present for her sentencing.<\/p>\n \u201cClearly, there was no intent to kill Mr. Dale,\u201d David Cohen, Rylaarsdam\u2019s attorney, told the courtroom. \u201cThis was clearly an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Superior Court Judge Brad Weinreb still had harsh words for Rylaarsdam.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you\u2019ve taken responsibility, but at the end of the day we\u2019re dealing with the unfortunate and preventable death that was caused by your actions,\u201d Weinreb told Rylaarsdam. \u201cThe actions were so reckless that death was almost certain.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite any agreement between Rylaarsdam and Dale, the facts of the case showed that the charges<\/a> could have been significantly higher, Weinreb said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat conduct showed a conscious disregard for human life,\u201d Deputy District Attorney David Jarman told Courthouse News. \u201cShe knew the risk she was engaging in and went for it anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Rylaarsdam and Dale had met a couple of weeks prior to his killing through an online advertising directory for adult content, Jarman said. The two then communicated via WhatsApp<\/a> where she charged him for text message exchanges, he said.<\/p>\n Over the course of a few weeks, Dale paid Rylaarsdam more than $11,000.<\/p>\n On April 17, 2023, Rylaarsdam, who lived in San Bernardino County, traveled to Dale\u2019s residence in Escondido, California, where she was hired to engage in bondage acts that ultimately led to his death. No sex act occurred between the two of them, Jarman said.<\/p>\n Dale was described in court as a fragile man who suffered from some underlying medical conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes.<\/p>\n Rylaarsdam was originally facing a second-degree murder charge<\/a> and potentially 25 years to life in prison.<\/p>\n Although Dale\u2019s family is still upset about his death, they are satisfied with the resolution of the case, Jarman said.<\/p>\n Cohen described Rylaarsdam as a bright, intelligent young woman who was engaged in her OnlyFans business to support her family.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a tragic situation,\u201d Cohen said. \u201cShe never intended to kill anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Cohen said Rylaarsdam, who has been in jail since February 2025, will likely remain incarcerated for a little more than a year due to credits for time already served.<\/p>\n Categories \/ Our weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing
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