'No contest' plea to molestation charge

A Placer County attorney pleaded "no contest" to a single child molestation charge Thursday in an Auburn courtroom.Jonathan R. Tyrell, 39, a criminal attorney from Roseville, appeared in a jail-issued orange jumpsuit and handcuffs, along with his Auburn attorney Barry Zimmerman. Tyrell has previously pleaded no contest to several felony counts for forgery and drug possession.When asked by Judge Richard Couzens how he wished to plea to a count of misdemeanor child molestation stemming from a Sept. 18, 2004 incident, Tyrell replied "no contest." The balance of the charges were dismissed per a Harvey Waiver, which permits the court to consider dismissed counts at the time of sentencing.Zimmerman said outside the courtroom Thursday that it was Tyrell's decision to enter the plea."Mr. Tyrell wanted to spare the witnesses a trial," he said. "He wants to spare further trauma to himself and the witnesses in this case."Wilson said since the molestation charges are misdemeanors, entering a plea to one or all does not affect the overall sentencing. A statute of limitations prevented prosecutors from pursuing additional victims."The charges filed against Tyrell are related to one victim we could identify and whose age we could verify," Wilson said. "He is a 15-year-old male."Tyrell will be listed as a lifetime sex registrant, officials said.In April law enforcement officers seized Tyrell's computer and several videotapes of minors and adults, partially clothed and submerged in a bathtub holding their breath while assuming a "bridge position," bent over backward. Tyrell has said that he was conducting a scientific experiment and that his subjects were paid for their work. Zimmerman contends there was no physical contact between his client and Tyrell's alleged subjects."There was no inappropriate touching with the victims in this case," he said. "The (district attorney) understands this, (therefore) they've been charged as misdemeanors."Wilson disputed that."The (victims) were touched by Mr. Tyrell and we can prove that beyond a reasonable doubt," he told the court, adding that he will provide Judge Couzens with some of the 100 evidentiary videotapes to review prior to imposing a sentence.Tyrell was arrested June 3 following an assault at his Roseville apartment. Tyrell reportedly bit Brian Lewan-dowski, 19, who police officers identified as an employee of Tyrell's. He has pleaded no contest to that charge as well.Roseville police officials said the young victim was treated at the scene by medical personnel and released.Tyrell remains in Placer County Jail on $150,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court at 8:30 Sept. 29 for sentencing. "I think Mr. Tyrell is a suitable candidate for probation and should get treatment for his drug issues," Zimmerman said.Couzens has the option of sending Tyrell to state prison for a maximum of seven years and four months. On the low end of the spectrum, he could get probation and serve some jail time.- Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia. com.