Scott Mark Bender, 49, entered the plea to one count of second-degree assault of a child with sexual motivation Wednesday, according to court documents.

The conviction counts as a strike under Washington’s “three strikes you’re out” law. It also requires Bender to register as a sex offender.

Bender agreed to spend 10 years in state prison as part of his plea deal, deputy prosecutor Lori Kooiman said Thursday.

Bender originally was charged with two counts of first-degree child molestation. He faced a minimum sentence of five years, seven months and a maximum of life if convicted of those charges.

Kooiman said Thursday that she decided to make a deal with Bender, in part to spare the victim the necessity of testifying.

Any reduction in prison time Bender receives for good behavior would be converted to probation, according to a sentencing recommendation agreed to by Kooiman and Bender’s attorney, public defender Melanie MacDonald.

Bender is to be sentenced May 23.

He admitted in his plea paperwork that he sexually assaulted the girl on Oct. 9, 2007.

Authorities contend he stopped his bus and touched the girl inappropriately on the way to a preschool program at Artondale Elementary School. No one else was on the bus at the time.

The Peninsula School District subsequently fired Bender, who had no previous criminal history.

He is being held in jail until his sentencing date.