Lance Spencer, Former Gymnastics Coach, Receives Maximum Sentence for Child Sexual Abuse

A measure of justice has been served to the Huntington, West Virginia community as a former gymnastics coach, Lance C. Spencer, was sentenced to 15 to 35 years in prison for multiple sexual abuse charges, and two to 10 years for a child pornography charge.

All of those sentences will run consecutively, and Spencer won’t be eligible for parole until seventeen years from now.

The incidents of sexual abuse that Spencer pleaded guilty to involved at least three minors over a period stretching from 2003 to 2021. The abuse happened at Bozhi’s Gym Nest in Huntington and Spencer’s residence.

The arrest and indictment of Spencer came as a shock to the community. Before Spencer was sentenced, his attorney, Kerry A. Nessel, asked for an alternative sentence of home confinement. Presiding Judge Chad Lovejoy quickly rejected that motion.

Before the sentence was handed down, many spoke on Spencer’s behalf, crediting him with the positive impact he had made on the lives of their children. As reported by WSAZ, Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Glen Conway was appalled at this “cult-like” support.

“I was flabbergasted, like I have never seen people come in and speak so eloquently in support of someone with a conviction such as these, not only the assault on the victim, but also the child pornography, but I think it shows that he was a groomer,” said Conway to WSAZ. “He was good to these people, nice to these people, and had a close relationship with them, and he took advantage of the situation.”

Not the End of the Pursuit of Justice

“While we are pleased to know that another perpetrator against our most vulnerable has been put away, there is still work to do…We continue to advocate for the victims and their families in civil cases as we seek further justice against those who hurt our youth and the entities that enable that harm.”

– R. Scott Long
Founding Partner, Hendrickson & Long, PLLC

“Survivors of sexual abuse show extraordinary courage when they come forward—often reliving their trauma to protect others and seek accountability. The criminal justice system can remove perpetrators from our communities, but the civil justice system gives survivors another vital path to truth, accountability, and healing. Together, these avenues of justice can not only punish those who commit harm, but also hold accountable the institutions that allow it to happen.”

– Guy D’Andrea

While it might be several decades before Spencer sees daylight outside of prison, that is not the end of the pursuit of justice.

R. Scott Long of Hendrickson & Long, PLLC, and Gaetano D’Andrea have filed a civil complaint on behalf of one of Spencer’s victims, Jane Doe (protected name), against Gym Nest, Inc., aka Bozhi’s Gym. The complaint alleges that Gym Nest Inc. put Jane Doe and many other gymnasts in harm’s way due to Spencer’s repeated and systematic abuse. That abuse includes grooming, sexual assault, and institutional neglect.

The victims of sexual abuse might be overwhelmed by what happened. They often experience intense feelings of isolation and hopelessness. There is usually the sense that they might be to blame, somehow.

That is never the truth. The law is clear about what constitutes sexual abuse, especially as it relates to someone under the legal age of consent, which is 16 in West Virginia.

If you or someone you care about has suffered from this kind of abuse, no matter who the abuser is, we want to hear what happened.

As with the complaint filed against Gym Nest, Inc., we put the privacy of our clients above all else.

You don’t have to be afraid to come forward to share what happened to you. We can provide you with the insight and support you need to know about what can happen next. Our goal will also be to find ways to bring you peace of mind by holding everyone responsible for the abuse accountable.

Call our offices today for a confidential and free consultation. You don’t have to go through this alone.