A 32-year-old Lawrence man charged Tuesday with aggravated indecent liberties with a child will be able to live in the same home as his young niece, despite prosecutors’ requests.

Assistant Douglas County District Attorney Katy Britton charged the man Tuesday with the felony that, if convicted, could send him to prison until at least 2040. Aggravated indecent liberties falls under “Jessica’s Law,” which gives even first-time offenders a life sentence without the opportunity of parole for 25 years.

The man was arrested on a warrant Sept. 20 and posted a $35,000 bond through a bondsman the same day. Since then, Britton said he has been staying with his parents, sister and niece.

Britton said she and Assistant District Attorney Mark Simpson, who’s assigned to the case, have “significant problems with the situation” because the alleged victim was under 14 years old, so she asked Douglas County Judge Pro Tem James George to ban the man from having contact with anyone under the age of 18.

But the man’s attorney, Cooper Overstreet, said banning the man from having any contact with those under 18 would be a “great burden” for his client, as the man has “no other place to live.”

George said the niece’s age caused him concern, but he decided to allow supervised contact with children under 18 after the man told George his “whole family knows what’s going on,” and that his mother does not work and is typically at home. The man is still banned from contacting the alleged victim.

George cautioned the man that his sister, mother or father must be at the residence while he is; otherwise, it would be a bond violation. Britton requested the issue be brought up again at a later date.

The man is scheduled to make his next appearance in court Nov. 17. A search of the man’s name in Douglas County District Court and Kansas Department of Corrections records revealed no prior criminal convictions.