The South Dakota Supreme Court has unanimously upheld (Dec. 10, 2025) the conviction of a Sturgis man who was sentenced to 65 years in prison on 11 counts of felony crimes involving five different children.
Lance Lowell Long was convicted by a Corson County Jury on:
- one count of Second Degree Rape,
- one count of Third Degree Rape,
- one count of Fourth Degree Rape,
- three counts of Aggravated Assault, and
- five counts of Abuse of or Cruelty to a Minor.
He was sentenced in July 2024. Long had previously served time in prison for similar child abuse crimes that occurred in Minnehaha County.
At trial, the prosecution offered evidence of six separate instances of abuse. Each of the victims testified.
Long appealed, arguing the circuit court erred in admitting evidence of Long’s similar prior acts. He also argued that the circuit court improperly denied Long’s motion for judgment of acquittal on the Second Degree Rape conviction. The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s decisions on both issues.
Both the initial investigation and prosecution of the case were conducted by the Attorney General’s Office, which also handled the appeal before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court’s opinion can be read here, https://ujs.sd.gov/media/nwak3lwp/30811-30812.pdf.
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