HUTCHINSON — A 31-year-old Arkansas man jailed for inappropriate involvement with a 10-year-old child was sentenced Friday to just over 12 years in prison.
Dustin Kennedy was given that sentence after Judge Joe McCarville agreed to go along with a recommendation to depart from Jessica’s Law to a level-two person felony and then sentence him on that grid based on any previous criminal history.
Kennedy had earlier waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered a guilty plea to aggravated criminal sodomy, while the state dropped a second charge or alternate count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Kennedy had been charged after the November 2011 incident where he was living with his girlfriend and was alone with her child when the crime occurred. The child apparently told her mother of about the incident, and she then confronted Kennedy. She told him he needed help, so he went to the hospital and asked for help. He was told to contact the police and was arrested shortly after.
District Attorney Keith Schroeder said he agreed to the recommendation and the plea agreement so the child victim would not have to testify. The victim’s mother told the judge that no matter the sentence, it won’t be enough.
In addition to the 12-plus years in prison, Kennedy will be required to register as sex offender and will be on lifetime post-release supervision.