The South Dakota Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of Lance Lowell Long, 42, of Sturgis for raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter and abusing his five stepchildren in Corson County.
Long was sentenced in 2024 to multiple prison terms totaling decades, including 50 years for second-degree rape, after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault, child abuse, and assault charges. He had previously been convicted of child abuse in Minnehaha County in 2021.
On appeal, Long argued the trial judge erred by allowing evidence of prior abuse and by denying his motion for acquittal. The Supreme Court unanimously rejected those claims, ruling the evidence showed a consistent pattern of abuse and supported the jury’s verdict.
The case came to light after one of the children disclosed the abuse to a Marine Corps recruiter, who alerted authorities.
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