On Thursday in Leavenworth County District Court, Aldridge pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child. In exchange for his pleas of guilty and no contest, prosecutors agreed to drop a second charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Both Aldridge’s attorney, Christopher Joseph, and prosecuting attorney Cheryl Marquardt expressed their favor of a plea arrangement at a status hearing July 10 to avoid the children having to testify in court.

The maximum penalty for the first count is life in prison and is more than 10 years in prison for each of the additional counts.

Basehor Police arrested Aldridge June 19 after conducting a thorough investigation into the allegations made by the children and their parents.

During the status hearing Thursday, Marquardt said the state possessed sufficient evidence to support the children’s reports Aldridge approached them in May near his Basehor residence, solicited sexual acts from them and inappropriately touched both girls.

The mother of one of the victims said she felt ill after hearing the recap of her daughter’s report.

“It makes me absolutely sick to my stomach,” she said. “I can’t even stand to look at (Aldridge).”

Joseph requested Judge Gunnar Sundby give the defense 60 days to prepare for the sentencing hearing. Joseph also asked for Aldridge to not be detained while awaiting his sentencing because Aldridge was not a flight risk, and the case would be better served if key witnesses did not have to be interviewed at the jail.

“I see no significant changes (in the case) to warrant a revocation of bond,” Joseph said. “It would be a lot easier for me to arrange witnesses if he could come to (them) instead of (them) coming to the jail.”

Marquardt said the prosecution did not oppose Aldridge remaining out of jail as long as the sentencing hearing was scheduled as soon as possible. Sundby set the sentencing hearing for 9 a.m. Oct. 15. Aldridge will remain out of custody during the time leading to his sentencing.

While she is hoping for the maximum sentence on all charges, the mother of one of the of victim’s says she feels sorry for Aldridge’s relatives.

“I really do sympathize with his family,” she said. “I can’t imagine if that was my father. But bottom line, he hurt my daughter, and, in my opinion, he deserves to spend the rest of his life in jail for that.”