photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Kyle Elder is pictured at his sentencing hearing Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Douglas County District Court.

A judge had little to say to a violent sex offender Friday after she sentenced him to nearly a quarter of a century in prison for abusing a Lawrence girl.

“I acknowledge that you have taken responsibility via a plea (deal),” Judge Amy Hanley told Kyle Elder, 36, of New York. “That is the only thing I can say here, looking at you.”

Hanley had just heard the victim’s mother talk about how traumatic the experience had been for her young daughter, who was 14 at the time. Elder had originally been charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of electronic solicitation — police said he had exchanged thousands of lewd messages and photos with the girl and planned to meet her in person for the purpose of statutorily raping her — but he pleaded no contest on Nov. 20, 2025, to two lesser counts of abuse of a child.

At the time, Elder was on parole in Niagara, New York, where he had committed a violent sex crime against another child. He was arrested there in August of 2024 and brought to Douglas County.

“I made a horrific discovery that no parent should ever have to make,” the girl’s mother told Hanley through sobs. “Horrific images of my daughter being abused.”

The mother spoke about how the experience left her child depressed, isolated and subject to panic attacks and nightmares — all of which are symptoms of the PTSD she was diagnosed with.

“She’s a good kid, a smart kid … and respected,” the mother said.

“This plea deal is probably the best thing that could happen to her,” she continued. “She could not testify in front of a jury of her peers” because she is still “not in a place” where she can even speak about the ordeal. The mother thanked the DA’s Office for the support it had shown her family.

Of the 24-year sentence that Hanley ordered pursuant to the plea deal, the mother said, “I hope that this serves as a lesson for you, Mr. Elder, that this type of behavior will not be tolerated by me or anyone in this community.”

The girl also offered a brief written statement to the court, which was read by Senior Assistant District Attorney Ricardo Leal. In it the girl wrote that Elder had taken advantage of her kindness and trust and had stolen her innocence and sense of freedom. She said she had been angry at the world “for not being protected” but was now making an effort to move past the experience and reclaim her life.

Hanley thanked the victim and her mother for the “dignity and respect” they had displayed and hoped that the sentencing would be “the first step of moving on for everyone.”

The lesser offense of abuse of a child, which Elder pleaded no contest to, does not specifically encompass sex crimes, though sex crimes are what he was originally charged with. He will hence have no duty to register as a sex offender in Kansas, though he is already registered as a violent sex offender in New York.

Because he committed the Douglas County crimes while on post-release supervision for a felony, Special Rule 9 applies. That rule requires consecutive sentencing. Hanley gave Elder 228 months for the first count of abuse and 61 months for the second count, resulting in 289 months, or 24 years in prison. That time will also be consecutive to whatever time he might still have to serve in New York.

He will receive 504 days of credit for time he has already served in the Douglas County Jail while being held on a $250,000 bond.

When given the opportunity to speak Friday, Elder chose not to.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Kyle Elder, center, is pictured at his sentencing hearing Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Douglas County District Court. Defense attorneys Branden Smith and Hatem Chahine are pictured at left and right, respectively.