A 50-year-old Rigby man, Lance Paul Empey, has pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault of a nine-year-old girl in Idaho Falls. Empey was charged with felony lewd conduct with a child under 16 after the girl reported being assaulted on Feb. 4. Police reports state that Empey exposed himself to the victim and forced her to engage in sexual activity multiple times. Empey claimed that due to his battle with cancer in 2016, he no longer had a sex drive. He also expressed remorse during police interviews and stated he would not be alone with the victim again.
Empey, a registered sex offender since 1993, has a history of battery and lewd conduct with minors. He was arrested and placed in the Bonneville County Jail on a $300,000 bond. A jury trial has been scheduled for January 27, 2025, where he could face up to life in prison if convicted. It is important to note that being charged does not imply guilt, and Empey is considered innocent until proven guilty.
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