Lincoln man who sexually abused minors sentenced

Rusty Masters said he wished he could take it back, but he can’t.

“It was my own stupidity,” he initially told the judge, adding that he was sorry for the victim and his family. “I don’t know what else I can say.”

Lancaster Assistant District Attorney Morgan Smith said in an interview before the sentencing that Masters failed to accept responsibility, blaming his actions on lack of sleep and saying he was doing her “a favor.”

“Mr. Masters is a danger to the community and the state would seek a lengthy prison sentence,” Smith said.

Defense attorney Carlos Monzón said this was a different kind of case since Masters did not visit or care for the 13-year-old girl. His girlfriend at the time, Alexis Keib, had arranged it and claimed that the girl wanted to have sex.

“Granted, he’s the adult. Granted, he could have said no,” he said, adding that Masters admits what he did and that it was wrong.

In Nebraska, a child under 16 cannot legally consent to sex.

Masters pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault of a child, but admitted to having two sexual encounters with the girl.

In March, Keib was sentenced to 20 to 50 years in prison for aiding and abetting sexual assault. After her no contest plea, she will spend the rest of her life under community supervision, just like Masters, who pleaded guilty.

According to prosecutors, in June 2022, Keib arranged for the girl to have sex with Masters, picked her up and drove her to Masters’ home in Lincoln, where he sexually abused the girl and had sex with Keib in front of her.

Investigators said Masters later texted the girl a sexually explicit photo and asked her for nude pictures.

Masters said he wanted to send the text message to his girlfriend.

Both were arrested after the girl disclosed the attack last year.

Lancaster County District Attorney Lori Maret told Masters on Thursday that he did not seem to understand the seriousness of the situation and the nature of this crime, which is dangerous.

“If you don’t get it, you don’t understand why you’re a danger,” she said, and he’ll likely still be a danger when he gets out of prison.

“What you did today in this society is still wrong. “What you think, what she said, how tired you were, how much alcohol you drank, doesn’t change that,” the judge said.