Cape man sentenced to three years in sex offense case
A Cape Coral man will face three years in state prison followed by probation after pleading to one count of lewd lascivious behavior earlier this month.
Ryan Alan Liebegott, 26, of 4130 S.W. Seventh Place, pleaded March 1 to lewd lascivious behavior conduct by person 18 years of age or older as part of a plea agreement with the State Attorney’s Office, officials reported.
“He pled to 36 months in the DOC (Department of Corrections),” assistant state attorney Tyler Lovejoy, who prosecuted the case, said Friday.
The prison time will be followed by two years of community control, more widely known as house arrest, then four years of sexual offender probation. He will be placed on sexual offender probation the first two years, as well.
Liebegott is also required to register as a sexual offender.
“Most likely for the rest of his life,” Lovejoy said.
Liebegott turned himself in Monday after putting his affairs in order.
“These cases are very very difficult because they don’t happen where witnesses are around. They happen in private,” Lovejoy said.
He explained that while the victim clearly remembered what happened, recalling the events in preparation for court obviously affected her.
“I was concerned with her ability to testify,” Lovejoy said. “Rather than force her to carry that load, we reached a resolution with Mr. Liebegott and his attorney.”
Liebegott was originally charged with sexual battery on victim less than 12 years of age, lewd lascivious molestation and lewd lascivious exhibition.
“The (victim’s) parent was very receptive to a resolution,” Lovejoy said, adding that the mother of the girl and Liebegott have a child together.
He explained that the plea agreement was structured to give the victim “breathing room” – an opportunity to grow up and move out of the home.
“The victim is our first priority. They are the ones that live with this event the rest of their lives,” Lovejoy said.
“No one wins in these cases,” he added.