By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

A man is facing three years of community corrections for an alleged rape in 2016 in Hays after accepting a plea agreement in Ellis County District Court on Monday.

Jordan B. Burgess made no-contest Alford pleas in front of Judge Blake Bittel to charges of reckless aggravated battery and three counts of sexual battery for an incident that occurred in fall 2016. The incident was associated with a house party in the 500 block of West Seventh in Hays.

Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees said his office is recommending three years of community corrections, although Burgess could have faced up to 136 months.

“The plea is recommending three years of community corrections probation,” he said, noting the lack of prior felonies in his background.

“In an Alford plea, a person pleads to a crime the state cannot prove in order to avoid possible conviction for a more serious crime that the state might be able to prove,” Drees said.

The prosecution is recommending three years of community corrections. He will be required to register as a sexual offender for 15 years.

Burgess is set for sentencing at 3:30 p.m. May 1. He remains on community corrections bond supervision pending sentencing.

CORRECTED: March 19, to reflect the correct sentence according to the plea agreement.