By Jeff Lehr

jlehr@joplinglobe.com

A Carthage man pleaded guilty Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court to sexual abuse of a girl younger than 14.

James Dustin Galbraith, 36, changed his plea to guilty on one count of first-degree statutory sodomy in a plea agreement with the county prosecutor’s office. The plea bargain would dismiss a second count of first-degree statutory sodomy and would limit the prison time Galbraith might be assessed to 10 years.

Circuit Judge David Dally delayed formal acceptance or rejection of the plea agreement, and ordered the completion of a sentencing-assessment report. The judge set Galbraith’s sentencing hearing for Jan. 11.

Galbraith was charged in March of this year after an investigation by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.

A probable-cause affidavit filed by a sheriff’s investigator alleges that Galbraith began forcing the girl to perform oral sex and other sexual acts with him in the summer of 2007. The abuse continued until his arrest in March, according to the affidavit.

The defendant reportedly admitted his guilt and threatened suicide in text messages to family members and his wife if the matter came to light. But he refused an interview with the sheriff’s investigator, according to the affidavit.