No jail for ex-Novato police officer for stalking girl, 8, sending lewd images

A former Novato police officer and Rohnert Park resident will not go to jail for sending lewd images to an 8-year-old girl over the internet.

Michael Manuel Ramirez, 36, was sentenced this week to three years of probation after pleading no contest to attempted stalking - a felony - and showing pornography to a minor ­- a misdemeanor.

Under an agreement with prosecutors, Ramirez will serve a 90-day jail sentence on work release or electronic home confinement. If he’s unable to do either, he may perform 300 hours of community service, prosecutor Jason Riehl said.

He initially faced up to 18 months in jail.

Riehl said prosecution of the case was hampered by evidence problems, including lost contact with the victim’s family.

Ramirez, on the Novato force for six years, was arrested earlier this year after the mother of the girl noticed the lewd images sent to her daughter. Detectives traced the activity to Ramirez, who resigned.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.