A judge has sentenced a 34-year-old former Lawrence man to serve three years on probation after he pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Ricky Lynn Bacon Jr. agreed to plead guilty in May to the less-severe count after prosecutors originally charged him with aggravated indecent liberties with a child and contributing to a child’s misconduct in 2008 for his relationship with a 15-year-old from Texas. The girl was a runaway that investigators were searching for.

Police arrested Bacon on July 21, 2008, at a residence in the 700 block of Connecticut Street after Texas investigators traced the girl to Lawrence.

Defense attorney Jessica Travis said the teen had told Bacon she was 18, but after he found out that she was a 15-year-old runaway, he did not break off the relationship.

“It was not a typical child-predator situation,” Travis said.

Douglas County District Judge Michael Malone on Friday ruled Bacon would have to serve three years in prison if he violated his probation that will be supervised by Douglas County Community Corrections. He also must register as a sex offender, undergo treatment and have no contact with the victim or any children.