PAWNEE COUNTY–A Kansas man waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered a No Contest plea Thursday afternoon in the Pawnee County District Court to one count of Attempted Rape, according to Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett.
Had the matter proceeded to trial, the State would have presented testimony that on the night of October 25, 2019, Michael Patrick Stacey, 20, Larned, entered the bedroom of a female roommate at his Larned home and attempted have sexual intercourse without her consent, according to McNett.
Defense counsel indicated his client had no objection to the proffer as the defendant was intoxicated at the time of the incident and has limited memory.
After hearing the proffer of evidence and reviewing the defendant’s understanding of the consequences of his plea, District Judge Bruce Gatterman accepted the plea and found Stacey guilty of the amended charge.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2020. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to waive his right to appeal the conviction and will be subject to lifetime Sex Offender Registration.
The defendant was originally charged with: (1) Rape of a victim overcome by force or fear; and (2) Battery. The crimes involve a single incident alleged to have occurred in Pawnee County on or about October 25, 2019. The Larned Police Department handled the investigation.
Stacey has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since his arrest on November 12, 2019.