Lawrence man, 26, pleads no contest to having relationship with 14-year-old girl

A 26-year-old Lawrence man pleaded no-contest Tuesday morning to having a sexual relationship at a west Lawrence apartment with a 14-year-old girl over a seven-week period.

District Judge Kay Huff accepted the plea to attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child and convicted Devin Rapp of the charge. Prosecutors in February filed seven charges against Rapp accusing him of having a sexual relationship with the girl from December 2010 to Jan. 31, but he pleaded to the one felony count Tuesday. Amy McGowan, a chief assistant district attorney, said prosecutors also wouldn’t file charges in connection with a second investigation in exchange for the plea.

Huff told Rapp, who has been free on $25,000 bond, that he could face from 31 months to 11 years in prison, although defense attorney David Brown said he believed Rapp had minimal criminal history, meaning he would fall on the low end due to state sentencing guidelines.

Huff also said Rapp could fall within a “border box” where the judge could decide between a prison sentence or granting probation at his Sept. 16 sentencing. Rapp would also have to register with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

“You will be classified as a sex offender because of this plea,” the judge said.