Richland man pleads guilty to raping four kids

Jeffrey M. Lassiter, 44, of Richland, could be locked up for the rest of his life after pleading guilty Wednesday to raping three girls and a boy.

Lassiter admitted eight counts of first-degree rape of a child — two counts for each child.

All of the charges in Benton County Superior Court include the aggravating circumstance that he was in a position of trust when he raped the kids between January 2012 and August 2015.

As Judge Alex Ekstrom read Lassiter’s plea statement out loud in court, two of the young victims seated with their families started crying as they heard their initials.

Lassiter was arrested Aug. 3, four days after the mother of two victims went to the Richland Police Department with the allegations.

One child told police about Lassiter’s inappropriate contact and that he “knew it was wrong,” according to court documents.

The mother said she confronted Lassiter and he replied, “It was a mistake.”

Investigators then learned about the two other victims.

Lassiter had no felony history before this case. However, because of the eight sex crimes, he is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison with a mandatory minimum term of 20 to 26 1/2 years.

Deputy Prosecutor Megan Whitmire told the court she will recommend a minimum sentence of 23 years and three months.

The state Indeterminate Sentence Review Board will determine Lassiter’s ultimate release date based on his behavior and treatment while behind bars.

Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for March 30.

Lassiter had been in custody on $400,000 bail, but it was revoked as a result of his conviction.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 9:22 PM with the headline "Richland man pleads guilty to raping four kids."