A 31-year-old Arkansas man jailed here in Reno County for inappropriate involvement with a 10-year-old child waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered a “guilty” plea to aggravated criminal sodomy, while the state dropped a second charge or alternate count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Dustin Kennedy had been charged after the incident where he was living with his girlfriend and was alone with her child when the crime occurred. The child apparently told her mother and she then confronted Kennedy. She told him he needed help, so he went to the hospital and asked for help and that’s when police got involved. The alleged crime occurring back on November 10, 2011.

Although the charge falls under Jessica’s Law, which could mean a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25-years, both sides will recommend a downward departure to a level 2 person felony and then sentence him at that level based on any past criminal history.

Judge Joe McCarville set a sentencing date in the case for March 7.