JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 19-year-old Mt. Vernon man has pleaded guilty in Jefferson County Court to a lesser charge of attempted sexual assault a 4-year-old girl.

Joseph Braddy of Mt. Vernon had originally been charged IN 2015 with Class X felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13, but he filed an open plea of guilty to the lesser charge of Class 1 felony attempted predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.

A Class X conviction would have made Braddy eligible for a prison sentence of between 6 and 30 years, while the Class 1 conviction makes him eligible for between 4 and 15 years in prison.

He is scheduled for a May 20 sentencing hearing in the case. Because of the open plea, there is no agreement between the prosecution and defense on sentencing, but Braddy will be required to register for life as a sex offender.