Gregory D. Jordan has pleaded guilty to two lesser charges in connection with a sexual assault case that involved Betty Halverstadt, who was later killed in an unrelated incident.
Jordan shook his head a bit as he entered guilty pleas to charges of aggravated battery and residential burglary during proceedings in Winfield Tuesday. He had originally faced a single count of rape and his trial was to begin this week.
His sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m., Oct. 19 at the Cowley County Courthouse in Winfield.
But Cowley County Attorney Chris Smith agreed to accept guilty pleas on the lesser charges, rather than go to trial without the victim. Halverstadt ? who died after falling from a bridge earlier this year ? had testified at a preliminary trial and a judge ruled that testimony could be used in Jordan’s trial.
Smith, however, said the alleged victim’s preliminary hearing testimony was incomplete and that her testimony at trial, had she lived, would have needed to be more thorough to ensure conviction.
"It was very difficult to have a satisifactory resolution," he said. "If Betty were alive, I’d have no qualms about taking this to trial."
Though both charges Jordan pleaded to are felonies, he is likely to get probation. Neither crime is a sex crime which means Jordan would only have to register as a sex offender if Judge Nick St. Peter were to order it.
Jordan can receive an 11-month to 34-month sentence for each count but is unlikely to serve that sentence so long as he completes probation requirements, Smith said.
Jordan was accused of entering a home in the 3500 block of Lakeshore Dr. uninvited in July 2008 and forcing himself sexually upon Halverstadt, who had been sleeping and heard someone come in the house.
It appeared no parties involved in the case were satisified with the outcome. Jordan and his supporters declined comment.
Francis Pressnall, Halverstadt’s mother, said the family knew of the deal and reluctantly supported it. She was, however, not entirely satisified with the outcome.
"We know our judicial system is broken," she said. "We don’t have victim’s rights at all. We feel like he violated her in the worst way, and he’ll probably get probation."
