A man who was arrested on sex abuse charges following an investigation by the Casper Police Department entered a guilty plea Tuesday morning in Natrona County District Court.

Christopher Terrance Coffey pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. In exchange, the state agreed to drop charges of first- and third-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Taheri also told District Judge Thomas Sullins that the state, as part of the plea deal, would not recommend a prison sentence of more than 15 years.

The female victim in the case was born in 2004. Coffey told Sullins that he had sexual contact with her private parts.

A Casper detective began investigating the case in late February after the Wyoming Department of Family Services reported the allegations. The victim was interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Project on March 2.

Coffey initially denied the allegations in a May interview with police. However, after failing a polygraph examination, he admitted that he abused the girl.

Investigators were told that Coffey had previously spent time in prison, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Coffey was arrested May 18.

Coffey remained in custody at the time of Tuesday's court hearing. His bond was last set at $100,000 cash or surety.

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