HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 22-year-old man convicted of aggravated indecent liberties with a child for alleged touching or fondling of a 9-year-old girl was sentenced Friday to six years and five months in prison.

Sterling Tucker plead guilty to touching the child between Dec. 25, 2015, and Feb. 15, 2016. The encounters occurred while the victim was under a blanket with him.

The state agreed to a lesser level of crime so the child would not have to testify.

Judge Tim Chambers noted that the child will suffer the emotional scars of this for possibly the rest of her life.