A Sand Rock man indicted on sexual abuse of a child charges, will serve slightly more than a year behind bars following a plea deal last Friday. 

In May of 2018, Michael Ross Stiles, then age 45 – was indicted by a Cherokee County Grand Jury on the charges of Sexual Abuse of a Child under the Age of 12, and Attempted Rape 1st Degree.  He was being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center on a $300,000 bond.

Last Friday (March 22nd), the District Attorney’s Office approved a plea deal in which Stiles pled guilty to the offense of Attempted sexual abuse of a child under 12, as a lesser included offense whereupon the State recommended a sentence of ten years split to serve two years, followed by three years probation.  Stiles will be given credit for 301 days already served in jail – effectively reducing his time behind bars to just over a year. 

Should he fail to meet the conditions set out following his release – he will then be required to complete the remainder of his sentence – that being the full ten years.  He does retain the right to apply for probation.

Per that plea deal, he will be required to reimburse the State $1,050 in attorney fees, court costs in the amount of $467.50 and a booking fee of $20.00. 

According to the paperwork filed, further assessments will be established upon his release from prison.

Stiles currently remains in the Cherokee County Detention Center.