photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Joshua William Spence

A 43-year-old Lawrence man is likely facing more than 16 years in prison after being convicted Monday of child abuse and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.

The man, Joshua William Spence, pleaded no contest in Douglas County District Court to child abuse by impeding the breathing of a young boy, who is listed in court documents as having been born in 2018, and to three counts of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child. The crimes occurred in November of 2024, while Spence was on probation for an earlier crime against a child. The earlier crime, from July 2022, was originally charged as sexual exploitation of a child, but that case was plea-bargained down to the felony of contributing to a child’s misconduct; Spence, however, was still required to register as a sex offender.

As part of the plea agreement, the state and Spence’s attorney, Gary West, agreed to recommend that Spence serve 195 months, or a little over 16 years, in prison. They also agreed that Spence would consecutively serve his underlying prison sentence — 12 months — in the case he was on probation for.

Judge Stacey Donovan informed Spence on Monday that she was not bound to follow the recommendation of the attorneys. She scheduled his sentencing for Jan. 21.

Spence remains in the custody of the Douglas County Jail.