HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” A former gymnastics coach charged with 16 counts of sexual abuse entered a guilty plea last week.
Lance C. Spencer, 55, was charged and indicted in May on eight counts of sexual abuse by a custodian and eight counts of sexual abuse by a person in position of trust to a child.
The incidents for which Spencer was charged are said to have occurred between 2003 and 2021, according to indictment records provided by the Cabell County ClerkÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s office.
Spencer was made permanently ineligible as a coach with USA Gymnastics and was ordered not to have contact with athletes as of 2023 for misconduct allegations.
Spencer accepted a guilty plea April 15 to two counts of the felony offense of sexual abuse by custodian. He also entered a Kennedy plea, meaning he accepted punishment but did not admit guilt, to the felony offense of possession of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to the plea order provided by the Cabell County ClerkÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Office, the first two felonies to which Spencer pleaded guilty carry a typical sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $500 to $5,000.
The third charge, to which Spencer took a Kennedy plea, typically carries a sentence of 2 to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
Spencer will be sentenced at 9 a.m. June 17 in Circuit Judge Paul FarrellÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s courtroom.
According to the plea order, the Cabell County Probation Department must also complete a Sexual Offender Presentence Investigation before June 17.
Spencer is currently being held in Western Regional Jail.
Katelyn Aluise is an education and court reporter.
