A Jefferson Parish jury on Wednesday night (March 25) found Lance M. Green guilty of sexually abusing two children in Kenner.
Green, 42, of Kenner, was convicted as charged of one count of first-degree rape, two counts of sexual battery of a juvenile under age 13 and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile under age 13.
Green, who was acquainted with both children, used “fear and intimidation” to control both victims, Assistant District Attorney Zach Grate told jurors Wednesday in closing argument. “This is why we call people like Lance Green ‘predators,” ADA Grate argued.
The Kenner Police Department opened the investigation in May 2020, after a 13-year-old victim revealed sexual abuse at Green’s hands for about one year. Green had babysat the victim. The victim realized after watching educational videos at school that what had been done to her was sexual abuse and informed a family member, who then brought the child to a hospital in Kenner.
Green was convicted of sexual battery of a juvenile under age 13 and Indecent behavior with a juvenile under age 13 for abusing this victim.
Following his arrest for abusing that victim, a 19-year-old victim disclosed sexual abuse by Green when aged 11 to 12. Green groomed the child by touching and progressed in severity over time, culminating with rape.
In connection with this victim, Green was convicted of first-degree rape, sexual battery of a juvenile under age 13 and indecent behavior with a juvenile under age 13.
The investigation uncovered evidence showing that Green searched the internet for pornography that included rape themes and minors.
Green denied abusing the children. His attorney argued that one of the victim’s accusations was inaccurate and the other’s accusations lacked credibility. Green also denied searching the internet for rape-themed pornography. His attorney argued that malware was responsible for the internet search evidence.
The jury deliberated about two hours before reaching its unanimous verdicts. Judge June Berry Darensburg of the 24th Judicial District Court is scheduled to sentence Green on April 20. Green faces a mandatory life sentence in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence for the first-degree rape charge.
Assistant District Attorneys Zach Grate and Cullen Kiker prosecuted the case.