According to FourStatesHomepage.com (KSNF/KODE), a 26-year-old Langley man will spend just two years in prison after a judge suspended nearly all of his 25-year sentence for molesting a 5-year-old girl. Matthew James Stuart pleaded no contest on Oct. 14 and was found guilty of the sexual offense, with the court ordering him to serve only the first two years of the term behind bars.
No Contest Plea Leads to Mostly Suspended Term
According to FourStatesHomepage.com, Stuart was found guilty of lewd molestation involving a 5-year-old girl after entering his plea. The court sentenced him to 25 years in prison but suspended the entire sentence except for the initial two years, meaning Stuart will not serve the vast majority of that term behind bars.
Stuart also received credit for time already served in the Delaware County jail, the outlet's report notes. Court records cited in the report show he was charged on Oct. 21, 2024, and has been incarcerated since Oct. 24, 2024 — meaning roughly two years have already passed since his arrest.
Fine, Registration and No-Contact Order
Beyond the prison time, Stuart was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and to register as a sex offender, per the same account. The court also ordered him to have no contact with the victim going forward, a condition attached directly to his sentencing.
No additional details about the circumstances of the offense, the specific statute under which Stuart was convicted, or the reasoning behind the largely suspended sentence were included in available records.
