Casper Man Pleads Guilty to Third-Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor
A man who was "like an uncle" to a 10-year-old girl has admitted to sexually abusing her when she spent the night at his house nearly four years ago.
Matthew Conroy, 34, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Natrona County District Court to one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree sexual abuse initially filed against Conroy.
Also under the plea deal, the state will argue that Conroy be sentenced to no more than five years in prison.
Charging documents say the victim's grandmother reported the crime to Evansville police on Sept. 18 after the victim told her Conroy had touched her inappropriately.
Conroy specified in court Wednesday that he and the victim were both wearing clothes when he committed the crime. He was a close friend of the victim's family, and grew up with the victim's father.
The victim told investigators that the act was "something people can do that is gross to do to people," and Conroy "touched [her] private part." He also allegedly made her watch videos of "people who didn't have clothes on," according to court papers, and called her bad names when he moved away from him.
Conroy remains in custody pending sentencing, which will be scheduled at a later date.