By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
A Hays man pleaded guilty to a pair of child sex crimes Tuesday.
Christopher Lynn Cox, 21, pleaded guilty to criminal sodomy and sexual battery in Ellis County District Court. Criminal sodomy is a level three person felony and sexual battery is a misdemeanor.
According to court documents, the sodomy charges stem from an incident on Feb. 17, 2020, where Cox provided alcohol and had sex with a 14-year-old girl.
As a result of the plea agreement, a rape or an alternative charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child charge were dropped.
Based on Cox’s criminal history, he faces up to 61 months, or five years and one month, in prison.
The sexual battery misdemeanor charge stemmed from a Feb. 1, 2020, incident where he inappropriately touched a 16-year-old without her consent, according to court documents.
Cox was initially charged with felony aggravated sexual battery but, under the plea agreement, the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor.
Cox is expected to be sentenced to 59 months, or 4 years and 11 months, in prison.
Court Services officials will conduct a criminal history investigation prior to sentencing to determine Cox’s criminal history.
Sentencing is set for later this year.