A Jefferson man has entered a guilty plea to an amended charge for an indecent contact incident with his sister.

According to court documents, 21-year-old Noah Exline submitted a written guilty plea for an amended charge of an aggravated misdemeanor for indecent contact with a child. Court documents show that Exline admitted that the incident happened on or around June of 2016, when he was 18-years-old or older.

Exline was originally charged with seven Class B Felonies for second degree sexual abuse. Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn explained two key factors into the plea negotiations that took place between the Iowa Attorney General’s office and Exline’s defense attorney. One was that the majority of the incidents that took place was when Exline was a minor himself and another was that Exline provided key testimony in the trial against his step-brother Patrick Thompson. Laehn noted that without the testimony he didn’t believe they could get a guilty verdict on Thompson of two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and arson for setting fire to a home in Guthrie Center in May of 2017. Paige was one of the two victims that died in that fire, along with her cousin Shakiah Cockerham.

The plea agreement is a suspended two year prison sentence, and probation for three years. Exline has agreed to pay a minimum fine of $625, along with surcharges, court costs and attorney fees.

Exline’s plea hearing is scheduled for February 4th at 9am at the Greene County Courthouse. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.