Man Sentenced To Prison Time After Entering Alford Plea In Sexual Exploitation Case

A man received a minimum of more than four years in prison in a sexual exploitation case. 22-year-old Michael Dakota Richardson of Mooresville pleaded guilty pursuant to Alford in Iredell County Superior Court to ten counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a child.

An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence but admits that the prosecution’s evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial. Richardson was given three consecutive sentences of 19 to 83 months in prison along with 60 months of post-release supervision on each count. The defendant was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

As WHKY previously reported, on January 21, 2024, Mooresville Police Department Detectives received a tip about inappropriate conduct on social media sites by an adult male, and Detectives began an investigation. The tip indicated that the suspect was using social media sites to attempt to meet with minors for sexual intercourse. The suspect was identified as Michael Dakota Richardson.

When confronted by Detectives, Richardson admitted that he had been trying to arrange a meeting with a minor for the purposes indicated in the information received by police. Richardson was arrested and charged with the solicitation count.

As part of the investigation, evidence was seized from Richardson’s home and examined by detectives. Upon examination, numerous items showing explicit child pornography were found on electronic devices belonging to Richardson. Detectives obtained warrants charging Richardson with the 20 exploitation counts and he was arrested a second time at his home on January 23.

As of earlier today (August 9) Richardson was being held in the Iredell County Detention Center.