McNeal received the lengthy prison sentence after he was convicted of "one count of oral copulation of a child 10 years old or younger" during a Thanksgiving party in 2009. The victim was a 3-year-old girl, according to the Los Angeles Times

In addition to the sentence to a California state prison, McNeal was also ordered to register as a sex offender. His lawyer issued the following statement following the sentencing:

"Half a dozen friends and family of Peter Ivan McNeal, having known him collectively for over 100 years, spoke on his behalf at his sentencing. His family stated with vehemence: 'We stand strong with Peter, accompanied by our extended family and swath of intelligent friends across the country and abroad, who, along with our legal counsel, will take our fight against this gross failure of justice to a higher court. We will do so until the time that Peter is free and his name is cleared.'"