Man accused of raping girl, 13, pleads guilty to child molestation
A man accused of raping a 13-year-old girl he met online pleaded guilty to lesser charges Tuesday.
John Stenger, 28, initially was charged with second-degree child rape, three counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes and second-degree possession of child pornography.
He pleaded guilty to second-degree child molestation and communication with a minor for immoral purposes.
According to charging papers:
Stenger and the girl wrote to each other online, and he picked her up at her house, then brought her back to where he lived in March 2015.
She told him she was 18, but Stenger learned she was 13 the next day. He called a hot line for missing children, after which a sheriff’s deputy took her home.
Later, Stenger sent the girl sexually inappropriate messages, which her mother saw.
His sentencing is scheduled for later this year.
Alexis Krell: 253-597-8268, @amkrell
This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Man accused of raping girl, 13, pleads guilty to child molestation."