Man gets 4-year sentence in child sex case

A Douglas County judge Thursday sentenced a 20-year-old Lawrence man to serve more than four years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old Lawrence girl.

District Judge Sally Pokorny also ordered Christopher G. Melott to register as a sex offender for 25 years, said Cheryl Wright, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Charles Branson’s office.

Melott in September pleaded no contest to one count of indecent liberties with a child. Prosecutors accused him of having a sexual relationship with the underage girl, whom police said he was acquainted with, in May in Lawrence. Lawrence police arrested him in June after a parent of the girl called officers.

Prosecutors said Melott told police the incident occurred at Burcham Park.

Melott had been on parole since February after serving a one-year prison sentence on several theft and burglary convictions in Douglas County.