Fiancee seeks to surrender

A Newport Beach woman accused of facilitating a sexual relationship between her fiance and a 14-year-old girl is negotiating a surrender with authorities, Orange County prosecutors said Wednesday.

Michelle Hecker, 31, is wanted on charges that she helped her live-in husband-to-be, lauded physique photographer Jason Ellis, 33, have a 10-month relationship with an aspiring teenage model, prosecutors said.

Calls to a number listed for Hecker on Ellis’ website were not immediately returned.

Between August 2007 and June 2008, Ellis had a relationship with the 14-year-old girl that involved dinner and movie dates and public displays of affection, prosecutors said.

Hecker introduced the couple when she met the girl through their mutual interest in horseback riding, officials said. Hecker would pick up the girl, dressed in horseback riding gear, and take her to see Ellis, prosecutors said.

Hecker told the girl Ellis, a renowned photographer of the human physique who has shot for Calvin Klein ads and fitness magazine covers, could help her jump start a modeling career, prosecutors said.

Newport Beach police had trouble locating both Hecker and Ellis, until Ellis was arrested over the weekend during a traffic stop in the city, police said.

Prosecutors have been working with Hecker’s attorney to negotiate when and where she would surrender to authorities, said Dist. Atty. spokeswoman Farrah Emami.

Ellis is accused of grooming the girl to develop a sexual relationship. Police said it does not appear Hecker was involved in that aspect of the alleged relationship.

After Ellis and the girl were done spending time together, Hecker would have the girl change back into her horse riding clothes and drop her off at home, prosecutors said.

The family grew suspicious, and an extended family member hired a private investigator to follow the girl, police said.

Hecker faces six felony counts of aiding and abetting Ellis’ alleged relationship with the girl. Each faces up to seven years in prison.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].