The Family That Lays Together
Webmaster's Note: This is an updated report of a story we originally covered in March 2003. It concerns the Lane family of Tulsa, Oklahoma. A family from which four members were convicted of either the sexual abuse of two young female family members or with knowing of the abuse and doing nothing to stop it. Currently three male members of the Lane family are serving sentences in prison while the mother of the Lane family, although convicted, received a suspended sentence and still resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Publication Date: 6/22/05
The Lane Boys:
This shocking case of child rape and incest first surfaced in the news media when arrest warrants were issued for Lane family members in March, 2003. The warrants were for the arrest of Bradley Kent Lane, age 19 and his brother Kyle Wayne Lane, age 16 on allegations that the brothers were sexually abusing two female children in their family.
The Lane brothers were alleged to have engaged in sex acts on multiple occasions with female relatives who were 16 or younger at the time. The alleged offenses occurred between 1997 and 2003 and all took place at the family's home at 11541 East Eighth Street, in Tulsa.
The Lane brothers disappeared from the family home on the day the victims were removed into protective custody in February, 2003 and were arrested by Tulsa Police on 3/17/03. This after extensive news media coverage of the case and a request by police for public assistance in locating them.
Bradley Kent Lane was already a convicted sex offender having been charged with sexually abusing a minor child. In August, 2002 he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of sexual battery and in September, 2002 was sentenced to 5 years in prison, with the entire term suspended with the first two years supervised. He was ordered to register as a sex offender, which he failed to do.
In the latter case Bradley Kent Lane was charged with one count of abusing a minor child, four counts of sexually abusing a minor child and one count of failing to register as a sex offender.
Kyle Wayne Lane was charged with three counts of rape in the first degree, one count of rape by instrumentation and one count of forcible sodomy.
The Lane Parents:
As police continued their investigation of the case, additional charges were filed naming the father, Kevin Trent Lane, age 42, and the mother Ellen Jo Lane, age 42 for their involvement in the abuse of the children.
Kevin Trent Lane, already a convicted felon, was arrested on 3/14/03 and charged with one count of sexually abusing a minor and one count of permitting the sexual abuse of a minor.
Ellen Jo Lane was arrested on 3/14/03 and charged with one count of permitting the sexual abuse of a minor.
The Wheels of Justice:
With four Lane family members charged in this shameful case hardly a month went by between March 2003 and March 2005 that at least one Lane family member wasn't in court. Numerous hearings were held, charges were modified, some charges dropped, some charges were added, pleadings were made and sentences handed down.
Rather than dwelling upon these numerous individual actions, we are providing a summary of the outcomes of each of the four cases. For specifics on the idividual cases see the 'Reference Section' at the end of this report.
Bradley Kent Lane:
Entered into a plea-deal with prosecutors pleading guilty to assault with an intent to commit a felony and violation of the Sex Offenders Registration Act. He was sentenced in July, 2004 to serve 15 years in prison followed by 5 years of probation.
Kevin Wayne Lane:
Entered into a plea-deal with prosecutors in October, 2003. Under the terms of the plea, Kevin Lane pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree rape of a 14 year old family member and was sentenced as a youthful offender. He was sentenced to 8 years on each count with the sentences to run concurrently and in the custody of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.
At the time of sentencing into the juvenile system Kevin Lane was 17 years old and could only be held until he turned 20. He was ordered to comply fully with the juvenile treatment program and informed that should he fail to do so he could be 'bridged' into the adult system.
In September, 2004 owing to his failure to comply with the juvenile treatment program Kevil Wayne Lane was 'bridged' to the adult prison system where he was sentenced to complete his concurrent 8 year prison terms.
Kevin Trent Lane:
In April, 2004, Kevin Trent Lane entered into a plea bargin with prosecutors under which one charge of sexually abusing a minor child was dropped and the second count was amended to assault with intent to commit a felony. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender. As part of his plea bargin Kevin Trent Lane agreed to testify against his wife, Ellen Jo Lane.
Ellen Jo Lane:
In May, 2003 the two victims refused to testify against Ellen Jo Lane and as a result all charges were dropped. Following Kevin Trent Lane's plea deal and agreement to testify against his wife charged against Ellen Jo Lane were refiled in April, 2004.
In March, 2005 Ellen Jo Lane pleaded no contest to two counts of permitting sexual abuse of a minor child. She was sentenced to 10 year and 10 month concurrent sentences on both counts with 10 years of each suspended, given credit for time served, placed under the supervision of the Department of Corrections and ordered to register as a sex offender.
Related Links:
Court Records - Prior Conviction of Bradley Kent Lane
Department of Corrections Records - Bradley Kent Lane
Court Records - Kyle Wayne Lane
Department of Corrections Records - Kyle Wayne Lane
Court Records - Kevin Trent Lane
Court Records - Prior Conviction of Kevin Trent Lane
Department of Corrections Records - Kevin Trent Lane
Court Records - Original Charge Ellen Jo Lane
Court Records - Ellen Jo Lane
Department of Corrections Records - Ellen Jo Lane
Sex Offender Registry Entry - Ellen Jo Lane
