Days before he was scheduled to stand trial, a Lawrence man entered a plea today to killing his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter by shaking and beating her.

Jason W. Dillon, 22, pleaded no contest to second-degree intentional murder and guilty to child abuse. He sobbed and held his head in his hands in court after entering the plea.

Dillon will be sentenced March 3 and faces roughly 16 years in prison under the terms of the plea agreement.

Dist. Atty. Charles Branson said he was prepared to go to trial but reached the agreement at the request of victim Sydni Perkins’ family members to spare them reliving the “horror” of the girl’s death at trial and during a possible appeal.

Dillon abused the girl while babysitting her June 18 in the 1100 block of George Court.