A 27-year-old Appanoose County man accused of third degree sexual abuse, a class C felony for an April incident in Wayne County, pleaded guilty to and was sentenced for a lesser charge on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Leonard Dean Schakel, of Plano, was ordered by Fifth Iowa Judicial District Judge Sherman Phipps to five years in prison for the lesser charge of lascivious acts with a child, solicitation. The judge also imposed but then suspended a $7,500 fine.

Wayne County Attorney Alan M. Wilson amended his trial information on July 28 charging Schakel with the lesser charge, which is a class D felony. Schakel accepted and entered a negotiated, voluntary guilty plea that was accepted by the court on Aug. 10.

The charges stem from an incident in April where Schakel supplied alcohol and engaged in sex with a 15-year-old female in Allerton in Wayne County.

Wilson's original trial information also accused Schakel of two counts of supplying alcoholic beverages to a minor, which are serious misdemeanors. Judge Phipps dropped those charges.

Class C felonies are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and at least a $1,000 but not more than a $10,000 fine. Class D felonies are punishable by up to 5 years in prison and at least a $750 but not more than a $7,500 fine.

Because of the conviction, Schakel was required and has registered as a sex offender with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry.