A rural Douglas County man says he was coerced into admitting that he sexually abused a 14-year-old girl.

Jason Orender, 39, pleaded guilty on May 17 to felony counts of rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

This month, Orender filed a motion in Douglas County District Court claiming he pleaded guilty because his attorney at the time, Phil Stein, pressured him into a guilty plea “because he perceived the plea as his only option.”

As Orender’s defense attorney, the motion argues, Stein was both incompetent and failed to keep the defendant abreast of the issues in the case.

When his plea was entered “Mr. Orender had been incarcerated for close to seven months,” the motion says. “During this time, he had seen no progress on his case and no advocacy on his behalf.” As such, the motion argues, Orender did not fully understand the “circumstances surrounding the plea.”

Orender is scheduled to appear in court this winter to determine whether his motion to withdraw will be granted. He is now represented by Cooper Overstreet.

Jason Orender

The case came about in October 2015, when a Douglas County high school guidance counselor reported that a young student was being sexually abused, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Douglas County District Court.

An arrest affidavit is a sworn document filed by police outlining the probable cause for making an arrest.

When police interviewed him, Orender initially denied the allegations, but later he admitted to having a problem, the affidavit says. He told police there were likely around 20 incidents where he sexually abused the girl in the span of a year.

The incidents took place both in rural Douglas County and in Osage County, the affidavit says.

At the time of his guilty plea, Orender was allowed to remain out of jail and in the custody of his parents on a $125,000 bond.

His bond, however, was revoked as he awaited sentencing because prosecutors said he violated the condition that he not have any contact with the witnesses in the case.

Orender is currently being held in the Douglas County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court next on Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.

If his motion to withdraw his guilty plea is denied, Orender could face more than 74 years in prison, depending on his criminal history.