WASHINGTON — Lloyd Lee Welch is set to plead guilty to a series of 1996 sex crimes against a 7-year-old girl in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of a plea deal reached during negotiations in the Lyon sisters case.
Last Tuesday, Welch pleaded guilty in Bedford County, Virginia, to the 1975 murders of 12-year-old Katherine and 10-year-old Sheila Lyon, who were last seen at Wheaton Plaza in Maryland.
He was sentenced to 48 years in prison for the Lyon murders as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Sixty-year-old Welch could be eligible for parole, when he’s in his mid-80s.
As part of the global plea announced in Bedford County Circuit Court, Welch’s attorneys said he would plead guilty to the Prince William County crime and be sentenced to 12 years in prison, which would be served concurrently in his 48-year murder sentence.
Welch’s attorneys and prosecutors say there’s little chance that Welch would ever be paroled.
Welch was indicted on a series of charges in December, April and May for the Prince William County assault, including rape, aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a child by a person in custodial or supervisory relationship.
The Prince William County attacks occurred more than 20 years after 12-year-old Sheila and 10-year-old Katherine Lyon were last seen in Montgomery County.
The victim, who is now 27, could be called to testify in the Lyon sisters murder trial, if the judge rules “other crimes testimony” is appropriate and not prejudicial.
The plea hearing will be in Prince William County Circuit Court.
The story is developing. WTOP’s Neal Augenstein is headed to the hearing.
The post Welch expected to plead guilty in ’96 Pr. William Co. sexual assault case appeared first on WTOP.
