On Thursday, a federal judge in Omaha sentenced the former co-owner of a dance studio to jail for the sexual assault of a minor.
Nick Murphy received a sentence of 57 months in federal prison, which is the maximum amount allowed by his plea deal with the U.S. Government a few months prior, and ten years of supervised release. He’ll be held prisoner in Englewood, Colorado.
Murphy was aware that the sentencing deal he had signed in federal court in Omaha in May provided for a term ranging from 46 to 57 months in federal prison.
Judge Brian Buescher of the United States District Court in Nebraska stated that he was hesitant to approve the plea deal because he believed it to be overly generous. Nevertheless, he recognized that by doing this, “a number of youth wouldn’t have to take the position and discuss topics they ought never to have to discuss.”
Had he declined the plea agreement, a trial would have taken place, and the girls would have provided testimony.
Murphy “knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced” a 17-year-old girl to fly from Nebraska to Arizona “to engage in a sexual act,” according to court documents.
In Arizona, the consenting age is eighteen.
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Young dancers who trusted the 42-year-old were among the victims who spoke to 6 News for the first time in court on Thursday. One of them made a speech that was difficult for the many dancing families crammed into the federal courthouse in Omaha to hear.
The victim, a 20-year-old who was taken advantage of by Murphy when she was 17, revealed to 6 News that she had been preparing her statement to the court for months.
He put a letter with a heart emoji on her car, ticking down the days before their joint flight to Arizona.
She testified in court that she was the victim of manipulation and grooming, and that she had kept the details of that sexual encounter a secret for two years. She claimed that the main reason she came forward was because she had heard of younger girls that Murphy was considering.
Then there were the text messages, the contents of which had been previously encrypted.
The court heard some of the texts Murphy had with other young dancers, despite the fact that there is only one recognized victim in this federal case. He once said to a female, for instance, “I would be married at fifteen if girls looked like you when I was fourteen.” That must never happen again. I apologize.
Murphy sent a “good night” with likes on Snapchat to another victim, along with a photo of him without a shirt on and the caption, “I keep forgetting you’re only 12.”
The government consented to drop its prosecution of Murphy for misbehavior involving a different minor in Sarpy County in exchange for the plea. Investigators claim that in 2021, Murphy—a former NFL punter—had a contact with the adolescent that involved texts, FaceTime, phone conversations, and Snapchat chats.
Murphy apologized to the court in a statement he read. “I notice how betrayed and shocked you seem to be looking at me right now. I was held to the highest standards, quite rightly. I made a very poor decision.
Murphy added that he failed to prioritize his family and freedom. He said to the court that his arrest destroyed his promising sales career and that he was now earning $14 per hour while wearing an ankle monitor at a car wash in the oppressive 110 degree Arizona heat. “I feel humbled by this process.”
Stu Dornan, his lawyer, attempted to persuade the judge to err on the side of leniency earlier in the hearing. Nothing suggests that the connection was anything other than consensual. This was a poor decision. This was not proper. He was only charged because he traveled to Arizona, where the legal age of consent is eighteen. Consensual sexual relations at the age of 17 is legal in 34 states.
The claim that Nick Murphy might have had sex with her in Nebraska, where the consenting age is sixteen, was refuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lecia Wright, saying that “he didn’t have access.” He recognized the possibility when he saw it to travel.
Murphy purchased two first-class tickets and boarded the teen’s jet to Arizona.
Murphy was brought into custody right away because he had consistently broken the terms of his pre-trial parole during the previous year. Murphy and his wife Mindy co-owned The Dance Authority.
Murphy ran afoul of the law after he used a computer for fantasy football without any monitoring software and made unapproved communication with people younger than eighteen.