Todd J. Lance - Repeat Sex Offender -

"It's the court's job to make sure there is not a third victim because the chance of recidivism is not only frighteningly high, it is guaranteed," Perkins said. "This is a dangerous, dangerous person and despite all the good things that were said about him that may be one side to him, the other side is a sexual monster."

Todd J. Lance's past came back to haunt him Tuesday.

The convicted sex offender was sentenced to nine years in prison for molesting a girl while he still was on probation for his first crime.

The 48-year-old man faced three to 14 years in prison. He is eligible for parole after serving half the prison term.

"The molestation of a child is probably the most serious offense - short of homicide - that one can commit," DuPage Circuit Judge John Kinsella said. "It's difficult to ever measure the effect this can have on a child."

Kinsella convicted Lance Jan. 30 of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for fondling the child, who was 11 or 12, beneath her clothing one night in 2003 in Elmhurst. She did not report the abuse until April 2007 to a school counselor.

Her outcry sparked an emotional court case. The girl's father stood by her, but her mother and sister sided with Lance. One-half dozen sheriff deputies stood guard Tuesday in the courtroom gallery filled with both victims, relatives and members of Lance's church who insisted he is a changed man.

Afterward, as deputies led Lance off to jail, the brother of Lance's first victim shouted, "Burn in hell, Todd." Deputies ordered him and another woman out of the courtroom.

In his earlier crime, Lance was accused of molesting a boy, beginning when the child was in the third grade, about three times a week for nine years. Lance pleaded guilty to the crime in April 2000, and was ordered to serve a one-year work-release jail sentence and four years' of a stricter form of probation. He also had to register as a sex offender.

He later became active in Elmhurst's West Suburban Community Church, which is how he met the girl's family, and still was on probation when she said the abuse occurred.

Police arrested Lance in April 2007 after they said he admitted fondling her. But Lance testified during his January trial that it was an accident.

Lance said he unintentionally touched her while asleep because he thought she was his wife, who also was in the bed and had allowed her daughter to climb in with them after the child had a nightmare.

His defense team, Stacey McCullough and Daniel Brown, sought the minimum punishment after citing Lance's strong work ethic, church involvement and community and family support. Prosecutors Brian Perkins and Enza LaMonica asked for a 12-year term.

"It's the court's job to make sure there is not a third victim because the chance of recidivism is not only frighteningly high, it is guaranteed," Perkins said. "This is a dangerous, dangerous person and despite all the good things that were said about him that may be one side to him, the other side is a sexual monster."

The girl now lives with her father in Lake County. Lance's last address was in Downers Grove. Upon his release from prison, Lance must serve four years' of mandatory supervised release and continue to register as a convicted sex offender.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"

.........Sarah Tofte