A suspect who said he belonged with the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang entered a plea Monday in connection with an attack on an American Indian man at a North Lawrence motel.

Jeremy S. Harris, 25, Guthrie, Okla., pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated kidnapping, which could carry a 54-year sentence.

Prosecutors dropped felony charges of attempted murder, theft, aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery as part of the plea agreement.

The plea came the day before the opening of Harris’ jury trial, in which he planned to serve as his own attorney.

Harris is one of five people charged in connection with the March 10 attack on 21-year-old Josh Greemore at the Jayhawk Motel, 1004 N. Third St.

Harris admitted to police that he was using methamphetamine the night of the attack and that he struck Greemore in the back of the head with a baseball bat and helped bind him, put him in the trunk of a car and drive him to Riverfront Park, according to earlier testimony from Lawrence Police detective Jack Cross.

Harris told police another member of the group stabbed Greemore when they reached the park, Cross testified.

In a police interview, Harris repeatedly used a racial slur when referring to Greemore, Cross testified. Harris told police he was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang but said he wasn’t a racist — just a separatist who believes different races shouldn’t mix.

Police, however, have repeatedly said the attack was not a hate crime and that robbery was the only motive.

Two people, Leslie T. Howe, 23, and Sara M. Bruce, 19, both of Emporia, have been sentenced for minor roles in the attack. Transients Scott L. Staggs, 34, and James A. Keezer, 21, are set to stand trial later this year for attempted murder.