Lance Scott Michel, a 31-year-old resident of Nespelem, Washington, has been sentenced to 216 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke, who also ordered Michel to serve a lifetime term of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.
Court documents show that in early 2023, Michel communicated with several minor females on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation through social media platforms. During this period, he provided these minors with items such as vaping products and cartridges. This behavior was identified as grooming before Michel sexually abused two victims who were both 15 years old. Judge Dimke cited the aggravated nature of Michel’s actions and imposed a sentencing enhancement due to his forcible conduct against both victims.
“Mr. Michel targeted minors from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation with the explicit intent to sexually abuse them. Protecting children and holding accountable those who seek to exploit and harm them are top priorities of my office,” said United States Attorney S. Peter Serrano. “We will continue to seek out and prosecute these heinous crimes thanks to our dedicated team and our FBI and tribal partners.”
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, stated: “Through social media, Mr. Michel gained the trust of minors on the Colville Reservation, trust he later took advantage of in the most unthinkable way. There is no question that his heinous actions were entirely deserving of today’s sentence. Protecting the lives and wellbeing of our nation’s children from those who seek to prey on them is, and remains, a top priority for the FBI and our partners.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation collaborated with the Colville Tribal Police Department during their investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Ellis prosecuted the matter for the Eastern District of Washington.
