A Douglas County judge agreed Thursday to allow a 55-year-old Lawrence man to serve 18 months on probation for a 2011 incident in which he was accused of inappropriately touching a 14-year-old girl.

District Judge Michael Malone said Thursday that Edward E. Morrison has had some success with counseling and treatment since his January no-contest plea to an aggravated battery charge.

Prosecutors accused Morrison of touching the girl through her clothing in an incident between June 1 and Aug. 11 as they were driving in the 1900 block of Harper Street. Because the victim and her mother agreed, prosecutors did not oppose the probation request. Malone also said Morrison’s involvement in the case “appears to be less serious than most crimes of this level.”

Morrison in court Thursday said he had made a mistake and was trying to move forward. His defense attorney Matthew Works said Morrison drank alcohol the day the incident occurred. Malone prohibited Morrison from consuming alcohol as part of his probation. He faces a 19-month prison sentence if he violates his probation.