Sex offender in child ruse gets 51 years in prison

A convicted sex offender accused of helping a man pose as a 12-year-old boy and enroll in Arizona schools has been sentenced to 51 years in prison.

Yavapai County Judge Robert Brutinel sentenced 37-year-old Brian Nellis to three consecutive 17-year prison terms with no chance of parole. The Chino Valley man had been charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Nellis was accused of helping 29-year-old Neil Rodreick pose as a 12-year-old and trick four Arizona middle schools into allowing him to attend school as a student.

Nellis posed as Rodreick's cousin; they lived with two older men posing as Rodreick's uncle and grandfather.