Hillsboro man pleads guilty to attempted child endangering
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Hillsboro man originally charged with gross sexual imposition against a 7-year-old pleaded guilty Wednesday to a bill of information on a fourth-degree felony charge of attempted child endangering.
Kenneth Nelson was indicted in March on one count of gross sexual imposition, a felony of the third degree.
On Wednesday, he appeared in front of Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, where he entered the plea.
Nelson waived prosecution by the indictment, and the prosecution presented a bill of information on the attempted child endangering charge. Coss explained to the defendant that it "has the same effect in that it results in a felony charge."
The state is recommending that he be sentenced to 17 months in prison out of a maximum 18 months.
Nelson appeared in court with his retained counsel, Matthew Jewson.
Coss said that the original charge had a minimum sentence of one year in prison, with a maximum of five years, a $10,000 fine, and mandatory registration as a sex offender for 25 years.
When asked by Coss if the victim had been consulted on the plea, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said that the 7-year-old victim was currently hospitalized and "unavailable." However, the child is in the custody of Highland County Children Services, and the office was OK with the agreement, as was investigating officer Det. Sergeant Denny Kirk of the Highland County Sheriff's Office.
Coss accepted the guilty plea and scheduled a pre-sentence investigation. A sentencing hearing will be held Aug. 30 at 1:15 p.m.
A Hillsboro man originally charged with gross sexual imposition against a 7-year-old pleaded guilty Wednesday to a bill of information on a fourth-degree felony charge of attempted child endangering.
Kenneth Nelson was indicted in March on one count of gross sexual imposition, a felony of the third degree.
On Wednesday, he appeared in front of Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, where he entered the plea.
Nelson waived prosecution by the indictment, and the prosecution presented a bill of information on the attempted child endangering charge. Coss explained to the defendant that it "has the same effect in that it results in a felony charge."
The state is recommending that he be sentenced to 17 months in prison out of a maximum 18 months.
Nelson appeared in court with his retained counsel, Matthew Jewson.
Coss said that the original charge had a minimum sentence of one year in prison, with a maximum of five years, a $10,000 fine, and mandatory registration as a sex offender for 25 years.
When asked by Coss if the victim had been consulted on the plea, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said that the 7-year-old victim was currently hospitalized and "unavailable." However, the child is in the custody of Highland County Children Services, and the office was OK with the agreement, as was investigating officer Det. Sergeant Denny Kirk of the Highland County Sheriff's Office.
Coss accepted the guilty plea and scheduled a pre-sentence investigation. A sentencing hearing will be held Aug. 30 at 1:15 p.m.
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