A former Lawrence priest Thursday pleaded guilty in Douglas County District Court to taking indecent liberties with a child.

The Rev. Dennis Schmitz admitted that on a fall night in 1998 he “inappropriately touched” a 15-year-old boy while sleeping with him.

Schmitz said the boy was spending the night with him at his Lawrence residence.

Judge Michael Malone accepted Schmitz’ plea and set sentencing for 9 a.m. Oct. 18.

If he doesn’t have a criminal history, Schmitz could be sentenced to 34 months in prison and be ordered to pay a fine. Mirakian said his client doesn’t have a criminal history and he will ask for probation.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas also is in the process of taking steps to have Schmitz removed from the priesthood.

Following the hearing Schmitz’ attorney, Steve Mirakian, said Schmitz reported the incident himself to officials with the Catholic Church. The information was then forwarded to law enforcement authorities.

“It was apparent by what was said in court that he knew that he did something very wrong,” Mirakian said.

Schmitz, 41, now living in Marysville, still has an indecent liberties charge pending against him in Nemaha County involving the same victim. Plea negotiations are continuing there and no new court date has been set, Mirakian said.

Schmitz was charged in June in both Douglas and Nemaha counties.

The victim, a Johnson County resident, also filed a civil lawsuit against Schmitz. It also is still pending.