GREEN RIVER — Spencer Dean Brown, 19, of Rock Springs, has been sentenced to 5-10 years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary for the sexual abuse of a minor on several occasions during the spring of 2020.

Brown was 18 years old when he was arrested for second-degree sexual assault of his then 13-year-old victim in Rock Springs. Those charges have since been modified to third-degree sexual abuse.

He initially pleaded not guilty to five felony counts of sexual abuse and one felony count of enticing a minor in August 2020. Those charges carried a maximum sentence of 95 years in prison if Brown were found guilty of them.

However, Brown agreed to plead guilty to two counts of sexual abuse as well as enticing a minor in Third District Court today. Three sexual abuse counts have been dismissed per a plea agreement.

Judge Suzannah Robinson sentenced Brown to 5-10 years for each sexual abuse count and 2-5 years for the enticement charge. The three sentences will run concurrently which means Brown could serve a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Defendant’s Factual Statement

Brown told the court that he first abused his victim on April 7, 2020, at a remote location known as the “wolf den” where people go to have bonfires. He said they talked for a while, then the conversation “turned to a sexual nature.” Brown said he began to touch her inappropriately for sexual gratification.

The same incident occurred at the wolf den the following evening, Brown said. He added that he met his victim through a friend and they conversed on Snapchat where he enticed her to meet with him between April 1-14, 2020 without her parents’ permission.

Victim Impact Statement

Brown’s victim addressed the court saying her encounter with him changed her life in a negative way. She blamed herself in the beginning but has since gotten better with support from her family. She said she no longer lives in fear of Brown and is taking back her life.

The victim’s mother also asked the court not to consider probation in Brown’s sentence. She said he deserves the maximum sentence for dragging out the process, and that he doesn’t deserve any special treatment.

Deputy County Attorney Hillary McKinney said part of the plea agreement will require Brown to participate in an intensive therapy unit (ITU) to address his drug and alcohol abuse problems. Brown’s attorney Nate Jeppsen added that a psychosexual evaluation of his client reflected serious mental health issues which also need to be addressed.

Brown will be credited with 501 days served and ordered to pay court and legal fees.