HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 25-year-old Hutchinson man convicted on child sex charges was scheduled for sentencing Friday, but at the last minute, decided he was unhappy with his lawyer, Justin Bravi, with the Regional Public Defender’s office.

Michael Wayne Stahl had entered pleas to 4 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, two counts of electronic solicitation, one count of attempted indecent liberties with a child and exploitation of a child. However at sentencing, the two sides were expected to recommend running all of the counts concurrent to each other, then asking for a departure from Jessica’s Law to the regular sentencing grid as level-1 person felonies. He was looking at multiple life sentences under Jessica’s Law which would not allow him parole for at least 25 years on each count.

He told Judge Trish Rose that he felt he was forced into signing the agreements with the plea and wants to try to get a better deal. However, there is no indication that the state would make any different offer. Deciding on the side of caution, Judge Rose granted a new lawyer for Stahl. That will be Wichita Attorney Alice Osburn, who handles many Reno County criminal cases.

As it stands now, the plea agreement is still in tact and Judge Rose set sentencing for September 5.

The case had to do with Stahl communicating with two 13-year-old girls through Facebook and also by text. That apparently led to him meeting the girls and then the sexual encounters occurred. Police became involved in the case when two reports were made to them and a detective started communicating with Stahl. Detective Scott Carlton posed as a 14-year-old girl which led to Stahl showing up at an abandoned residence where he thought he was meeting the 14 year old, but met police instead.

After his arrest in October, he apparently admitted that he inappropriately touched the girls. The crimes occurred in September and October of last year.

Stahl is looking at a sentence of 147 to 653 months, depending on his criminal history, but again the sentencing is on hold until September.