Man accused of child sex abuse accepts plea deal

John Robert Steed, 61, charged with one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.

LOGAN — A 61-year-old Avon man accused of child sex abuse, has accepted a plea deal to lesser charges and could be sentenced to a year in jail.

John Robert Steed appeared in 1st District Court Monday afternoon, pleading guilty to sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.

State attorney Barbara Lachmar said Steed allegedly touched the buttocks and genitals of a child and was originally charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. She said the state had problems with evidence in the case and felt like the plea deal would be the best resolution.

The attorney for the defendant claimed Steed was under the influence of alcohol and Ambien at the time of the alleged assault and didn’t remember it occurring.

Court records show the assault happened in December 2013.

Steed will be sentenced January 5.

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