Sebastian Nathaniel Landers, who was arrested in November 2025 on charges involving the alleged sexual abuse of children, appeared in Tenth Judicial District Court on Nov. 3 before Judge Thomas Stockard for a status hearing at which his guilty plea was changed to no contest.
Landers was arrested Nov. 21, 2025, and initially faced 11 charges involving allegations of Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 14, Lewdness with a Child Under the Age of 14, Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child, and other offenses.
A first amended criminal complaint filed in December included nine felony counts involving two children, approximately 7 and 8 years old. The charges included five counts of Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 14, one count of Lewdness with a Child Under the Age of 14, two counts of Child Abuse or Neglect, and one count of Indecent or Obscene Exposure.
During the Nov. 3 hearing, defense attorney Moriah Demarrias told the court that her office had filed a motion to withdraw Landers' guilty plea. Demarrias said Landers contacted the defense requesting a change of plea, and following lengthy discussions, they agreed to seek a modification from guilty to no contest.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Priscilla Baker said the state would agree to the modification in consideration of the victims.
When Judge Stockard asked what the state could prove, Baker said the prosecution's evidence supported 13 felony counts ranging from sexual assault of a child to incest. Following a settlement conference, the parties reached an agreement involving one count of Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 14.
According to the first amended criminal complaint, the charge is a Category A felony that could carry a sentence of 35 years to life in prison.
Demarrias explained that she and Landers had discussed the change to a no-contest plea. She told the court that “by doing so, he maintains his innocence and does not specifically admit to the facts and circumstances which the state charges. However, it makes an acknowledgement and admission that if the matter proceeds to trial that the state would be able to prove each and every element …”
A no-contest plea allows a defendant to resolve a criminal charge without expressly admitting the alleged conduct.
Judge Stockard ordered the first amended information filed, allowed Landers' guilty plea to be replaced with a no-contest plea, and set sentencing for Monday, Nov. 16, at 9 a.m.
Comment
Comments