An Agra man scheduled to go to trial on several counts of child sexual abuse has entered a no contest plea instead and drawn a suspended term.
John David Somers, Jr., 33 at the time he was charged, appeared before District Judge Sarah Bridge recently and entered a no contest plea to four counts of child sexual abuse.
The judge advised him they were 85 percent crimes. As a result of a plea bargain, he withdrew his original plea of innocent and entered the no contest plea.
Judge Bridge found him guilty on all four counts and sentenced him to 20 years in the Department Corrections with all time suspended.
She assessed him fines of $100 on each count, a $100 VCA on each count, court costs and 991 fees. He was advised of the Mandatory Registry on the Sex Offender Registry, and follow all rules and conditions of sex offenders with the exception of being allowed contact with his son and step dad.
Judge Bridge issued a no contact order with regard to the victim and he was placed on supervised probation with DOC. He was ordered to report to the Probation Office and to the Court Clerks’ Office.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Thompson prosecuted the case for the state and Somers’ defense attorney was Joan Lopez.
Somers was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on Jan. 4, 2024. He first appeared before Associate District Sheila Kirk in December who set his bond at $25,000 with the he have no contact with the victim.
At the conclusion of his preliminary hearing on May 2, 2024 he was bound over. During his arraignment before District Judge John Canavan, he waived a speedy trial and pleaded innocent.
Somers made his initial appearance on Jan. 4 before Special Judge Emily Mueller.
Somers is accused of committing the alleged crimes on Dec. 23, 2023 at a residence in Agra.
He was arrested by Lincoln County deputies in Agra the night of Dec. 23 and transported to the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler.