Spoede gets 30 years

(Editor’s note: The following story may be upsetting to sexual assault victims. It is the Citizen’s policy that victims of sexual assault are not identified in stories.)

Wyndi Veigel-Gaudette Content Editor

Arran James Spoede, 48, pled guilty Monday, Feb. 26 on aggravated sexual assault of a child charges and will spend 30 years in prison.

The plea agreement was read in the 266th Judicial Court with Judge Jason Cashon. Defense Attorney Brady Pendleton represented Spoede in the case. The charge is a First Degree felony, punishable by five to 99 years in prison.

Spoede was arrested in 2022 after a 20-year-old female made an outcry of sexual assault that began occurring at the age of 12.

Spoede was indicted on these charges in Dec. 2022.

In court on Monday, the victim gave a victim impact statement, according to information obtained in conjunction with Beneath the Surface News.

“I will spend the rest of my life questioning those closest to me and because of that I am more alone than you or anyone will ever know,” she said.

“You stole my innocence. You stole my identity. You stole the childhood I deserved. You got to live your biggest dreams while I lived my biggest nightmare.”

“I hope the darkness frightens you ... I will continue to be a voice for the weak.” Spoede is prohibited from having any contact with the victim either directly, indirectly or through a third party.

Spoede must serve at least half of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole but not entitled to parole. He will also be required to register as a sex offender if released from prison.