photo by: Kansas Bureau of Investigation

Michael K. Aller

A Lawrence man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for attempting to solicit sex from a 15-year-old girl, but a Douglas County District Court judge suspended the man’s sentence to probation.

Michael Ken Aller, 32, was sentenced to 59 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for one count of electronic solicitation of a person between the ages of 14 and 16, a level 3 person felony, and 32 months for one count of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child, a level 5 person felony. Judge Kay Huff suspended the sentence to 36 months of probation for each count to run concurrently, according to court records.

Aller pleaded no contest to the charges on Jan. 3, 2022, and was sentenced on Feb. 1, according to court records.

As the Journal-World previously reported, Aller was originally charged with attempted rape, electronic solicitation and two counts of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

In October of 2020, Aller reportedly contacted a 15-year-old girl on Facebook and tried to meet her for sex after she told him she was half his age, according to the arrest affidavit in his case. The girl told Aller she could not leave her house, and Aller proceeded to send her illicit pictures of himself and drove by the girl’s house three times.

In addition, Aller reportedly was in contact with another individual whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. That girl was actually an undercover police officer. The undercover officer made arrangements to meet Aller in a park, and after Aller gave a signal identifying himself, officers arrested him.

As part of the plea agreement, Aller must abstain from drugs and alcohol, participate in sex offender counseling and have quarterly assessments for risk of re-offense. He is prohibited from being on social media sites and from possessing or viewing pornography. He is required to re-engage with Cottonwood Inc. to secure employment.

Aller must also register as a sex offender and pay $513 in court costs and fees.