HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A 30-year-old Kansas man has been sentenced to less than 13 years in prison for raping a girl who was under the age of 14.

The Hutchison News reports that Steve Love Jr. pleaded no contest last month to a single count of rape. In the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed a charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

He was sentenced Friday to 12 years and 11 months in prison. He’s also required to register for life as a sexual offender and remain under lifetime post-release supervision.

The Reno County district attorney’s office says it agreed to support a lesser sentence in order to prevent the victim from having to testify. The defendant could have faced life in prison.