Man pleads not guilty after nine-year-old reports sexual assault to police

IDAHO FALLS – A 50-year-old Rigby man pleaded not blameworthy to nan intersexual battle of a nine-year-old woman Monday.

Lance Paul Empey was charged pinch felony lewd behaviour pinch a kid nether 16.

Police reports opportunity connected Feb. 13, an Idaho Falls Police detective was assigned to travel up connected a lawsuit of a nine-year-old woman who had reported being sexually assaulted by a man identified arsenic Empey.

The woman said nan latest battle occurred connected Feb. 4 astatine a location successful Idaho Falls. She reportedly told detectives Empey had exposed himself to her and forced her to prosecute successful intersexual activity aggregate times.

Detectives interviewed Empey, who reportedly stated “ever since having crab successful 2016, he doesn’t person a activity drive.”

Empey allegedly told constabulary that he was unsocial pinch nan unfortunate connected Feb. 4, and explained he had been kicked retired of nan home. When officers asked why, Empey reportedly stated he “wasn’t really sure.”

Lance Paul Empey | Idaho Sex Offender Registry

According to police, astatine 1 constituent during nan interview, Empey stated nan following:

“If this happened, yes, I’m genuinely sorry, K? And no, it would ne'er hap again. I person nary intentions whatsoever of being astir (the victim) unsocial ever again, from this time forward, K? I will not beryllium successful her beingness erstwhile it’s conscionable nan 2 of us. If she wants to spot me, that is fine, but location will beryllium personification other location level out, and it won’t beryllium recorded successful immoderate way, shape, aliases form; I do not consent to that. Somebody tin beryllium location while we talk if that’s what she wants. If she doesn’t want to spot me, that is fine. That is her prime astatine this constituent successful time.”

He past stated that he did not sexually maltreatment nan victim.

Empey was past arrested and booked into nan Bonneville County Jail pinch a enslaved of $300,000. He was arraigned successful territory tribunal connected Monday, and a assemblage proceedings was scheduled for January 27, 2025.

According to nan Idaho Sex Offender Registry, Empey is simply a registered activity offender from a condemnation successful 1993 for artillery pinch intent to perpetrate a superior felony, and lewd behaviour pinch a insignificant nether 16 years of age.

If convicted, Empey could look up to life successful prison.

Though Empey has been charged pinch these crimes, it does not needfully mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed guiltless until they are proven guilty.