WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — A former Wisconsin Rapids youth pastor has pleaded guilty to repeated sexual assault of the same child.
James Lane, who now resides in Colorado, entered the plea last month for one felony count and now faces up to 40 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.
Lane was a Youth Pastor at Faith Reformed Church in Wisconsin Rapids when the crimes occurred. He admitted to assaulting the victim as he was giving them a ride home numerous times between the fall of 2002 and the winter of 2003.
The victim did not report the assault to local police or Church leaders at the time. They later reported it through the State of Wisconsin’s Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative hotline.
“As this conviction shows, the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative is continuing to have an impact,” said AG Kaul. “Thank you to the courageous survivor whose decision to make a report has led to accountability for the defendant.”
The 53-year-old is the third person to face criminal charges as a result of a tip to the hotline. Lane will be sentenced on June 3rd.
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