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

IDAHO FALLS – A 50-year-old Rigby man pleaded not guilty Monday to sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl.

Lance Paul Empey was charged with lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16.

According to police reports, on February 13, an Idaho Falls Police detective was assigned to investigate the case of a nine-year-old girl who reported being sexually abused by a man named Empey.

The girl said the most recent assault took place on February 4 at a home in Idaho Falls. She reportedly told investigators that Empey exposed himself to her and forced her to perform sexual acts on several occasions.

Investigators questioned Empey, who reportedly stated, “Since he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, he has had no sexual desire.”

Empey reportedly told police that he was alone with the victim on February 4 and that he had been kicked out of the house. When officers asked why, Empey said he was “not really sure.”

According to police, at one point during the interrogation, Empey said the following:

“If that happened, yes, I'm really sorry, K? And no, it would never happen again. I have no intention whatsoever of ever being alone with (the victim) again from today onwards, K? I will not be in her presence when it is just the two of us. If she wants to see me, that's fine, but there will definitely be someone else there and it will not be recorded in any way; I do not agree to that. Someone can sit there while we talk if that is what they want. If they don't want to see me, that is fine. That is her decision at this point.”

He then stated that he had not sexually abused the victim.

Empey was subsequently arrested and placed in the Bonneville County Jail on $300,000 bail. He was arraigned in District Court on Monday and a jury trial has been scheduled for January 27, 2025.

According to the Idaho Sex Offender Registry, Empey has been a registered sex offender since a 1993 conviction for assault with intent to commit a serious felony and lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16.

If convicted, Empey could face life in prison.

Although Empey is accused of these crimes, it does not necessarily mean that he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.