Spring Break
Attorneys fight over child molestor's fate
By: Travis Robinson
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: News
One hundred years, was the sentence given to Brian Lancaster, the former assistant director of Texas A&M University Study Abroad Administration Monday Nov. 19.
The jury took less than 3 hours to give Brian Lancaster the maximum sentence for child molestation.
Lancaster pled guilty to five counts of indecency with a child by contact, second-degree felonies that each carry a 20-year sentence each. In addition, he pled guilty to one count of indecency with a child by exposure and one count of solicitation of a child, third-degree felonies that each carry a 10-year sentence.
Many students feel betrayed by Lancaster's actions. "We're a University of respect and he did not live that out and that reflects poorly on the faculty of Texas A&M," said Becca Wilson, a sophomore sociology major.
Lancaster was arrested in January after an outcry from two sisters receiving piano lessons from his wife prompted detectives to search Lancaster's home and campus office. From the seizure of his computers, detectives found videos of him molesting the girls and others.
Authorities also found Peeping Tom footage of teenage neighbors' bedrooms and more than 20,000 downloaded images of child pornography.
Possession of such pornography brought another 102 charges for second- and third-degree felonies, for which Lancaster will stand trial on Monday.
District Attorney Shane Phelps said that because of pending litigation, the district attorney's office had no comment.
Many students were appalled as well as surprised to hear the recent news about Lancaster. "I'm shocked. It's a shame that someone who played such a prominent role as an A&M administrator in community could do such a thing," said Chris Frey, a sophomore business major.
"We really didn't play up his role in the community," said Phelps when asked if Lancaster's role as an administrator had anything to do with deciding of punishment. Regardless of his contribution to the community, Phelps said they asked the judge and jury for a harsh sentence. Judge Rick Davis then decided to make the sentences consecutive, meaning he would serve each sentence individually, back to back, as opposed to simultaneously.
The jury took less than 3 hours to give Brian Lancaster the maximum sentence for child molestation.
Lancaster pled guilty to five counts of indecency with a child by contact, second-degree felonies that each carry a 20-year sentence each. In addition, he pled guilty to one count of indecency with a child by exposure and one count of solicitation of a child, third-degree felonies that each carry a 10-year sentence.
Many students feel betrayed by Lancaster's actions. "We're a University of respect and he did not live that out and that reflects poorly on the faculty of Texas A&M," said Becca Wilson, a sophomore sociology major.
Lancaster was arrested in January after an outcry from two sisters receiving piano lessons from his wife prompted detectives to search Lancaster's home and campus office. From the seizure of his computers, detectives found videos of him molesting the girls and others.
Authorities also found Peeping Tom footage of teenage neighbors' bedrooms and more than 20,000 downloaded images of child pornography.
Possession of such pornography brought another 102 charges for second- and third-degree felonies, for which Lancaster will stand trial on Monday.
District Attorney Shane Phelps said that because of pending litigation, the district attorney's office had no comment.
Many students were appalled as well as surprised to hear the recent news about Lancaster. "I'm shocked. It's a shame that someone who played such a prominent role as an A&M administrator in community could do such a thing," said Chris Frey, a sophomore business major.
"We really didn't play up his role in the community," said Phelps when asked if Lancaster's role as an administrator had anything to do with deciding of punishment. Regardless of his contribution to the community, Phelps said they asked the judge and jury for a harsh sentence. Judge Rick Davis then decided to make the sentences consecutive, meaning he would serve each sentence individually, back to back, as opposed to simultaneously.
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