A Catholic priest intends to plead guilty to a charge of taking indecent liberties with a child, his attorney said after a hearing Wednesday in Douglas County District Court.

The Rev. Dennis Schmitz, 41, formerly of Lawrence, waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He will enter a formal plea to the charge during an arraignment at 3 p.m. Sept. 5 before Judge Michael Malone.

At that time Schmitz will plead guilty because he doesn’t want to force the victim who was 15 at the time the incident allegedly occurred in 1999 to go through a trial, said Steve Mirakian, the attorney who has represented Schmitz since the charge was filed in June.

“He’s extremely remorseful,” Mirakian said. “He feels horrible about what has happened.”