By Lucky Kidd
ALLEN COUNTY, Kan. — A former Allen County Sheriff’s Deputy pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges involving sexual involvement with a 15-year-old runaway.
Michael Lane Tennyson pleaded guilty in Allen County District Court to four counts of indecent solicitation of a child in an amended complaint filed Aug. 6 as part of a plea agreement between Tennyson’s attorney Ashley Repp and Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway, where original charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child were reduced.
Tennyson was charged in late March after authorities tracked the runaway from Hays to his Iola home. He had been terminated from the Allen County Sheriff’s Office once they were informed of the allegations. He had only been a deputy for three months.
Indecent solicitation of a child is a level 6-person felony, carrying a sentencing range of from 17 to 46 months in prison. Under guidelines, a level 6 felony with no prior criminal convictions would be presumptive probation, and the agreement calls for underlying sentences to be based on the high number under guidelines, and Tennyson will be required to register as a sex offender for not less than 25 years.
Sentencing was set for Oct. 29 before Montgomery County District Judge Jeffrey Gettler, who is hearing the case after judges in the 31st Judicial District recused themselves.
