JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 28-year-old Opdyke man is now facing between 18 and 180 years in prison after he filed an open plea of guilty this morning in Jefferson County Court to three of 11 child sex offenses against him.

Garrett McElveen pleaded guilty to three Class X felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13. Per the plea agreement the other charges have been dismissed.

Today was to be the first of what was expected to be a three-day bench trial of McElveen. He was indicted on the 10 Class X charges and one Class 4 felony charge shortly after his December 2015 arrest.

Rather than move forward with the trial, McElveen filed an open plea to three of the charges against him.

Unlike most other guilty pleas, an open plea does not come with a sentencing agreement. Prior to accepting McElveen’s guilty plea, Judge Barry Vaughn advised him that each count has a special sentencing range of 6-60 years each.

Vaughn further advised that under the circumstances of the charges, McElveen faces a minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 180 years to be followed by 3-years to life mandatory supervised release.

Judge Vaughn ordered a pre-sentencing report to be completed in the case, with a status hearing on that report scheduled for November 3. McElveen will remain in the Jefferson County Jail.