Close-up photo of a judge’s wooden gavel held midair above a matching sound block on a courtroom desk, with the judge’s hand and blurred legal documents visible in the background.
FILE – A judge with a gavel. (Special to Bay City News/New Africa)

SAN FRANCISCO, 3/20/26 – A Willits man was sentenced to 10 and a half years in federal prison Wednesday for trying to arrange a sexual encounter with a child and distributing and possessing child pornography, authorities said. 

Federal prosecutors said Nathanial Alfonso Burke, 34, communicated over several weeks in early 2024 with people he believed were a man and his 11-year-old daughter. During those exchanges, he sent sexually explicit messages and images and made plans to meet them for sexual activity. 

Authorities arrested Burke when he showed up at the agreed location. Investigators said he had condoms with him at the time. 

Burke pleaded guilty in July 2025 to charges including attempting to entice a minor and sharing and possessing child porn.  

He has been in custody since his arrest. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered 15 years of supervised release after his release from prison. 

Sarah Stierch covers breaking news and more for The Mendocino Voice. Reach her at sarah@mendovoice.com.

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