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Lancaster County District Court Judge Jodi Nelson sentenced Joseph Ganz to 30 to 40 years in prison.

In November of last year, the Lincoln Police Department took a report of a 13-year-old girl receiving text messages from Ganz referencing the exchange of sexual content via social media, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The victim reported meeting with Ganz outside her home. Ganz provided the 13-year-old with two electronic cigarettes and requested sexual favors in return, police say.

Officers posed as the victim and began messaging with Ganz, where he made admissions of sexual acts with the 13-year-old and requested an explicit video of the girl.

Ganz was the girl's school bus driver. The affidavit did not specify which school or school district Ganz worked for, but a Lincoln Public Schools spokesperson said Ganz had never worked for the district.

Ganz pled no contest to an amended charge of first-degree sexual assault and was found guilty.

Nicholas Glasz, Ganz's defense attorney, requested probation for his client, citing Ganz's lack of criminal record, which should make him a candidate for supervised release.

"He is deeply apologetic, and I believe he is genuine about his feelings," Glasz added.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Morgan Smith argued that Ganz merits a lengthy sentence.

"Ganz denied doing anything with the victim ... he took advantage of this child," he said.

Nelson expressed skepticism about Ganz's remorse; "You blamed the victim and called her a liar," she said.

Nelson said she had read all the messages provided by LPD between Ganz and the victim. She labeled them disgusting.

Lastly, Nelson mentioned how Ganz benefitted from a significant plea agreement before handing her sentence. 

"No way (Ganz) is a candidate for probation," she said.