Judge Trish Rose has announced that a 25-year-old Clinton, Missouri man accused for the alleged inappropriate touching of an 8-year-old girl will enter a plea in the case on Thursday. He is scheduled to go to trial next week.

Erik Reyes is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child for touching the girl while staying with relatives. The alleged crime occurring back on June 5, 2011 in South Hutchinson. The charge is an off-grid felony which means he could be looking at a life sentence with no chance for parole for 25-years under Jessica’s Law.

The case came to light after the aunt of the victim learned of the abuse and called South Hutchinson Police. She also reportedly began to strike Reyes with a hair-dryer. He quickly skipped town and was located in Missouri and brought back to Hutchinson.

The victim was allegedly sleeping on the couch when he allegedly took her into a bedroom where the alleged encounter happened.

The had done a mental evaluation on Reyes recently and he was deemed competent for the case to continue.

Reyes remains jailed on a 100-thousand dollar bond and again now scheduled for a plea hearing Thursday at 3:30 p-m.