SPOKANE, Wash. — A Spokane man was sentenced to nearly 16 years to life in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting five young children over a five-year period, according to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office.
Matthew R. Lance, 36, appeared in Spokane County Superior Court where he pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual abuse including child molestation in the first degree, two counts of rape of a child in the first degree, indecent exposure and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, court records show. He also pleaded guilty to one count of assault in the fourth degree.
Judge Tony Hazel sentenced Lance to 189 months to life in prison, which falls within the mid-range of sentencing guidelines, according to court records. The abuse began in 2018 when the victims were between 6 and 8 years old, according to court documents. Court documents show Lance was a relative of the children.
Lance must also serve lifetime community custody, register as a sex offender for life and have no contact with the victims, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Donahue handled the case with support from victim/witness advocates and the Spokane Police Department, the prosecutor’s office said.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
