HUTCHINSON — A Kansas man charged with sexual exploitation of a child saw that charge go away on Thursday while he entered a “guilty” plea to the second count of aggravated violation of the offender registration act.

Douglas A. Kennel, 45, Hutchinson, was arrested on January 27 following an investigation that began when he took an old phone to have data transferred to a new phone.

The phone store employee transferring the data saw images that he thought to be child porn.

District Attorney Keith Schroeder said after the hearing Thursday that he found a lot of mitigating factors with this case including the fact that the defendant had deleted the pictures several years ago, even reformatted his phone so he wouldn’t have access to them, but they were still apparently on the SD card.

As part of the plea agreement, both sides will recommend nearly 20-years in prison, but will also recommend five years of intense community corrections.

They also convinced Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen to reduce the bond down from $250,000 to the original amount of $10,000.

Although the state dropped the charge of sexual exploitation of a child, Schroeder told the court he would dismiss the charge without prejudice, meaning he can re-file the charge at anytime within the next five years.
Kennel will also be under some strict rules before and after sentencing. He must remain in contact with his attorney and his bonding agent and have a sex offender evaluation completed.

Prior to sentencing, he’ll be under court supervision and can’t leave the county without their permission, other than for the evaluation, which will be done at Prairie View in Newton.

He also can’t have any contact with a child under the age of 18, without supervision of his wife or pastor. However, he can have contact with his three stepchildren.

He also can’t have any access to a computer, cell phone or other electronic device that can be connected to the Internet.

Any computer in his home will be password protected in a manner that would prevent him from gaining access to the Internet, but wouldn’t hinder other members of the household.

He’s also forbidden from consuming alcohol or illegal drugs and must obey all laws of Kansas and the United States.

He also agreed to waive any right to appeal any legal sentence handed down by the Judge.

Sentencing in the case is scheduled for May 20.