Billings Man Charged With Crimes Against Minor
UPDATE 8/21/19: After this story went to print, we learned bond was set on Lechner's case and he was released from the Stone County Jail. Bond amount and terms are not currently available in online court records. Lechner is set to reappear on these charges October 8.
August 22, 2019
Isaac Estes-Jones
A 47 year old Billings man is in the Stone County Jail without bond after he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a child under the age of 12. Lance Lechner, 47, of Billings, was arrested on Tuesday, August 13.
According to affidavits of probable cause, used in filing charges, the alleged victim was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield in July of this year. The victim reportedly disclosed several incidences of sexual assault by Lechner that occurred in 2017 and 2018, when they were under the age of 12.
The probable cause statement alleges Lechner, a family friend, assaulted the victim on numerous occasions, including on a trip to view the total solar eclipse in 2017.
When the victim was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center, they also reportedly stated Lechner would purchase candy for the victim as “a reward” for doing these things, the report states.
Lechner is charged with two counts of statutory sodomy or attempted - deviate intercourse with a person less than 12 years of age, one count of child molestation in the second degree and one count of attempted statutory rape.
He was arrested on August 13 without bond. He appeared in Stone County courts on Tuesday, August 20.
A 47 year old Billings man is in the Stone County Jail without bond after he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a child under the age of 12. Lance Lechner, 47, of Billings, was arrested on Tuesday, August 13.
According to affidavits of probable cause, used in filing charges, the alleged victim was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield in July of this year. The victim reportedly disclosed several incidences of sexual assault by Lechner that occurred in 2017 and 2018, when they were under the age of 12.
The probable cause statement alleges Lechner, a family friend, assaulted the victim on numerous occasions, including on a trip to view the total solar eclipse in 2017.
When the victim was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center, they also reportedly stated Lechner would purchase candy for the victim as “a reward” for doing these things, the report states.
Lechner is charged with two counts of statutory sodomy or attempted - deviate intercourse with a person less than 12 years of age, one count of child molestation in the second degree and one count of attempted statutory rape.
He was arrested on August 13 without bond. He appeared in Stone County courts on Tuesday, August 20.