Michael Lee Nelson

Sources

1. UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH STATE OF UTAH vs. MICHAEL LEE NELSON / CASE NUMBER 261402696, Utah Court Records, July 20, 2026.
2. Utah County doctor charged with online enticement, exploitation of 14-year-old girl , ABC 4, July 20, 2026.
3. Michael Lee Nelson, Recently Booked, July 16, 2026.

• 1. UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH STATE OF UTAH vs. MICHAEL LEE NELSON / CASE NUMBER 261402696

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  • Utah Court Records

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  FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT - PROVO DISTRICT COURT
  UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
  STATE OF UTAH vs. MICHAEL LEE NELSON

  CASE NUMBER 261402696 State Felony

  CHARGES
  Charge 1 - 76-5B-201.1(2)+(3A) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR -2nd Degree Felony
  Offense Date: May 14, 2026
  Location: Salem 84653
  Mandatory Appearance

  Charge 2 - 76-5-417(2)+(3D) - ENTICING A MINOR - CLASS A MISDEMEANOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY - Class B Misdemeanor
  Offense Date: May 14, 2026
  Location: Salem 84653
  Mandatory Appearanc

  07-20-2026

  WBX WAIVER HEARING is scheduled.
  Date: 07/27/2026
  Time: 01:00 p.m.
  Before Judge: KRAIG POWELL
  Courts Website: https://legacy.utcourts.gov/cal/
  CUSTODY
  The defendant is remanded to the custody of the Utah County Jail.

• 2. Utah County doctor charged with online enticement, exploitation of 14-year-old girl

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  • ABC 4

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  Content warning: This article contains information about child sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised. Report child sexual abuse to local law enforcement and contact the DCFS 24/7 hotline: 855-323-3237. For more information, visit dcfs.utah.gov.

  Correction: This article has been updated to correct Dr. Michael Lee Nelson’s board status. We regret the error.

  SALEM, Utah (ABC4) — A podiatrist from Salem is accused of attempting to entice and discussing sexual acts with whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl online.

  Michael Lee Nelson, 58, is charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and enticing a minor, a Class B misdemeanor.

  According to court documents, a man contacted the Salem City Police Department to report a sex offense on May 14. He stated that he was from California and was moderating an online chat room when another user logged in and asked if there were “any younger-aged girls.”
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  The Californian pretended to be a minor female and eventually exchanged phone numbers with the other user, later identified as Nelson. In text messages between the two, they talked about where they lived, and the Californian pretended to be a 14-year-old.

  Nelson reportedly began discussing sexual acts that he wanted to perform with the minor, requesting explicit images as he mentioned different body parts.

  Using Nelson’s cell phone number, the Californian was able to find out that Nelson was a doctor from Salem, Utah, and contacted the police department.

  After police reviewed the information and text message exchange shared by the Californian, they began investigating Nelson. Using search warrants, officers obtained his address and information about his residence and medical practice.

  Documents say Nelson is a doctor of podiatry and works out of an office in Spanish Fork.
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  On July 16, the Salem Police Department served a search warrant at Nelson’s home address. When they arrived, he was working on a vehicle in his driveway and agreed to give officers his cell phone and go with them to the police station.

  During questioning, officers asked Nelson if he knew why he was there, and he stated that it might have “something to do with being harassed online.” He explained that individuals were trying to blackmail him into sending them money.

  When asked why he was being blackmailed, Nelson claimed that he “tries talking to people in chat rooms to see if they are a rat or fake.” He said that he usually joins them to help people, and only goes into adults-only chat rooms.

  At this point, police showed him a copy of the messages with the Californian, asking if he recognized the exchange. Nelson said yes, but claimed he initiated the conversation to find out why a minor was in an adult chat room.

  When asked why he exchanged sexual messages if he was only trying to find out if the person was real, Nelson said he “didn’t know, and it should have stopped.” He allegedly admitted to having similar conversations online with different individuals.
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  Police left Nelson alone in the interview room with a notebook and asked if he wanted to write an apology to the 14-year-old that he attempted to entice. Documents say he wrote the following:

  “When you hit me up on chat I thought you were an adult. when you claimed in private to be underage I was skeptical I’m sorry I didn’t believe you – I truly thought you were of age – I even thought you might be a guy trying to play a trick on me. I should have believed you and I should have ended the conversation forthwith.
  Please accept my apologies – I am sorry for being a creeр.
  I am sorry I didn’t believe the man who kept threatening me and demanding things from me. It made me feel that the whole thing was a ruse – Please, Forgive me”.

  Nelson was then arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail, where he is being held without bail.

  Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

• 3. Michael Lee Nelson

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  • Recently Booked

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  Name: Michael Lee Nelson
  Booking ID: 471307
  Booking Date: July 16, 2026 5:07 PM
  Age: 58
  Gender: M
  Race: White
  Height: 5' 07''
  Weight: 170 lbs
  Hair: Brown
  Eyes: Brown
  Arresting Agency: Salem PD

  Reported Charges

  Charge Code: 76-5-401(2)+(3A)
  Charge Description: UNLAWFUL SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH A MINOR

  Charge Code: 76-5-417(2)+(3C)
  Charge Description: ENTICING A MINOR - THRID DEGREE FELONY SEXUAL ACTIVITY