Francis A. Mercede will not have to spend more time behind bars for having sex-related contact with a teenage girl in July 2015 in Pottsville, a Schuylkill County judge ruled Wednesday.
Mercede, 29, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to corruption of minors, with prosecutors withdrawing two counts of indecent assault.
Judge John E. Domalakes accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Mercede to serve 272 days to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, plus an additional 12 months on probation.
Domalakes also sentenced Mercede to pay costs and barred him from having any contact with the victim.
Pottsville police filed the charge against Mercede, alleging he had illicit contact with a 13-year-old girl on July 24, 2015, in the city.
Police said the girl told them she was sleeping at a friend’s house when she woke up to find Mercede lying on top of her and holding her hands above her head.
The girl said she kicked Mercede off her and he left the room, police said. However, the girl said he returned about 7 a.m. and had additional sexual contact with her, according to police.
Mercede said little during Wednesday’s hearing except to indicate that he understood the details and consequences of his plea and was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.