ATCHISON ? The husband of a day-care provider has pleaded no contest to sexually abusing two of his wife’s young charges.

Rockey Rash, 44, entered the plea Thursday in Atchison County District Court to charges of aggravated sodomy, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and attempted aggravated sodomy. Rash was charged with the aggravated sodomy and attempted aggravated sodomy counts shortly before he pleaded no contest and waived his right to a preliminary hearing or trial.

Rash’s attorney declined to comment.

Atchison County Atty. Gerald Kuckelman said Rash sexually abused a 3-year-old girl and a 5-year-old girl who attended the at-home day care center operated by his wife, Peggy Rash. She faces a misdemeanor charge of operating an unlicensed day-care center.

Rockey Rash was arrested after one of the girls told her parents, and Kuckelman said he confessed.

Kuckelman said he had planned to charge Rash with several more counts of abuse, but backed off when Rash agreed to plead no contest.

He will be sentenced Nov. 4, and could get between 11 years and more than 20 years in prison.