District Sentencing

D. Neb. · Sex AbuseFY2018–FY2025

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Sex Abuse in the District of Nebraska

D. Neb. · Eighth Circuit · Sex Abuse nationally

The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.

11cases, FY2025143 over FY2018–FY2025
144median prison monthsnational, this offence: 180
51%within guideline rangenational 41%
100%cases with a prison termnational 99%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10
<10
<10
<10
9%
17%
24%
13%
10%
10%
10%
median 144 mo
under 6 mo6–11 mo1–2 yr2–3 yr3–5 yr5–10 yr10–15 yr15–20 yr20–30 yr30 yr+life
Share of cases with a prison term, by length of the term (143 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: sexual abuse offences nationally.

Interquartile range 96–262 months; mean 192. 14 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Sex Abuse was the primary offence type in 143 cases sentenced in the District of Nebraska between FY2018 and FY2025 (4% of the district's cases), with 11 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 144 months (12 years), shorter than the national median for sexual abuse offences (180 months) and shorter than the Eighth Circuit median (180). Half of prison terms fell between 96 and 262 months; 100% of cases carried a prison term.

51% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 41%); 28% were below the range on a government motion and 11% below it for other reasons.

Caseload in FY2025 was about the same as in FY2018. The median prison term in FY2025 (235 months) was longer than in FY2018 (51 months).

These are aggregates of past cases. The guideline range for any case depends on its offence level, criminal history and statutory minimums, and the sentence on the court's findings; no figure here estimates an outcome.

§ 3Position relative to the guideline range

Within guideline range 51%Above range 10%Below range, government sponsored 28%Below range, other 11%Not determinable 0

§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation

MeasureD. Neb., sex abuseD. Neb., all offences8th Cir., sex abuseUS, sex abuse
Cases per fiscal year184741761,239
Share of district caseload3.8%100%——
Median prison months14460180180
Mean prison months19279—212
Cases with a prison term100%94%—99%
Within guideline range51%48%47%41%
Above range10%4%6%5%
Below range, government sponsored28%25%25%29%
Below range, other11%23%22%26%
Median final offence level3321—37

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

12
10
22
18
27
24
19
11
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Sex Abuse cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
51
102
140
174
120
174
240
235
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Median prison months by fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
Fiscal yearCasesPrisonMedian monthsWithin rangeBelow, gov.Below, otherAbove
FY201812100%51————
FY201910100%102——0%0%
FY202022100%14055%———
FY202118100%17456%———
FY202227100%12048%———
FY202324100%17458%——0%
FY202419100%240————
FY202511100%235————

§ 6Criminal history

Category I57% · 67%
Category II15% · 10%
Category III9% · 9%
Category IV7% · 5%
Category V8% · 6%
Category VI<10

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: sexual abuse offences nationally.

§ 7Guidelines applied

Primary guidelines the Commission associates with this offence type, with the district's caseload under each across all offence types.

§ 8Questions and answers

What is the typical sentence for sexual abuse offences in the District of Nebraska?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 144 months (12 years), with the middle half of terms between 96 and 262 months. 100% of cases carried a prison term. The national median for sexual abuse offences is 180 months.

How often are sexual abuse offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

28% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 11% below it for other reasons; 51% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.

How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, sexual abuse offences had a median prison term of 180 months and a within-range share of 41% over the same period. The district's figures are below on median term and higher than the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §2G2.1, §2G1.3 and §2A3.1.

Is this a prediction for a particular case?

No. The figures are aggregates of sentences already imposed, as recorded by the US Sentencing Commission. They are not legal advice and do not estimate the outcome of any case.

§ 9Other offence types in the District of Nebraska

§ 10Provenance

Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 27; district is CIRCDIST 60. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.