Brander Pleaded Guilty to Two Counts, Receives Consecutive Prison Terms
TWIN FALLS — A Twin Falls district judge handed down a prison sentence of at least 30 years Friday to a local business owner convicted of sexually abusing a minor, rejecting defense arguments for a lighter punishment and spending roughly half an hour explaining the reasoning behind the decision.
Matthew Brander, 46, pleaded guilty in March to two counts of sex abuse of a minor as part of a plea agreement, reduced from an original five-felony charge. District Judge William Hancock sentenced Brander to 25 years fixed on the first count and a consecutive term of five years fixed with 20 years indeterminate on the second count, resulting in a minimum of 30 years before any possibility of release. Brander must also pay $20,000 in fines and a $10,000 civil penalty to the victim.
Judge Hancock was unsparing in his assessment of Brander’s conduct. Brander had targeted a victim who was vulnerable, accessible, and under his care, the judge said. Hancock also expressed concern that Brander continued to be deceptive when subjected to polygraph testing in April — showing deception when questioned about the full scope of his sexual conduct with the girl and whether he had used his position of authority for sexually motivated purposes.
Deputy Prosecutor Suzanne Ehlers outlined how Brander had cultivated the relationship with the then-teenage victim over time, purchasing gifts and taking her on outings while progressively crossing physical boundaries in a pattern of grooming behavior. The victim, now an adult, ultimately came forward to law enforcement, a decision that triggered negative reactions from some within Brander’s social circle.
Judge Cites Decade-Old Allegations That Went Unreported
Among the more troubling aspects of the case, Judge Hancock noted that allegations against Brander had surfaced approximately a decade before the current charges, when the victim first disclosed information to people she trusted. Law enforcement was not contacted at that time, and the victim’s parents were never informed — leaving the family without answers for years as to what had been driving changes in their daughter’s behavior, Ehlers told the court.
Hancock said pre-sentence reports reinforced his conclusion that Brander’s criminal conduct extended well beyond the two counts to which he admitted guilt.
Defense attorney Steven McRae urged the judge to consider a county jail sentence or a prison term with retained jurisdiction, citing a psychosexual evaluation that classified Brander as low-risk to reoffend. McRae noted that few clients he had represented scored as low on that assessment as Brander, and he argued that Brander was highly amenable to treatment. McRae also emphasized that the guilty plea covered only two specific incidents — one in a Twin Falls restaurant parking lot and one at a movie theater — and that many other details described by the prosecution remained disputed.
Hancock was not persuaded. The judge stated plainly that releasing Brander directly back into the community at this time would pose a risk to public safety.
Case Drew Public Attention After Charges Filed in 2024
Brander was charged in May 2024 and posted a $50,000 bond shortly after his arrest. News of the charges spread widely on social media, generating both calls for a severe sentence and organized boycotts of his businesses. McRae, in his arguments, characterized some of that reaction as taking a “support the man, not the crimes” posture and cautioned against allowing public pressure to drive the sentence.
Defense counsel noted there is only one named victim in police reports, and no other individuals — including current or former employees at Brander’s businesses — ever came forward with claims of victimization.
The victim’s decision to go to police, despite the social backlash she faced afterward, was a central theme in the prosecution’s sentencing argument. Ehlers said the delayed reporting from years prior had left the victim and her family without critical information that could have changed the course of events.
Cases involving the sexual abuse of minors by those in positions of trust remain a serious concern for Twin Falls County law enforcement and the court system. Residents interested in community safety resources or crime trends in the Magic Valley area can visit coverage of recent Twin Falls Police enforcement efforts or explore public safety information from the Twin Falls Sheriff’s Office.
What Comes Next
Brander will begin serving his sentence in Idaho state prison. With the consecutive terms in place, he will not be eligible for parole consideration until he has served a minimum of 30 years. No appeal had been publicly announced as of the sentencing hearing. The case is closed at the district court level barring further legal action.