Carson City man pleads guilty to child-porn charge

With just a week to go before his trial, a Carson City man on Thursday pleaded guilty to a charge of child pornography involving a 7-year-old.

Kyle Andrew Bates took sexually oriented photographs of the victim in a dressing room at Walmart in December 2011. The charge he admitted in court specifically charges the use of a minor under 14 in producing pornography.

The case was delayed more than a year before Bates was apprehended in California.

Under terms of the plea, Bates must be sentenced to life in prison. By statute, he must serve a minimum of five years with no good time or other credits before becoming eligible for parole. A review of Parole Board history and practices shows that child sex offenders seldom if ever receive parole in their first appearance.

Both prosecutor Mark Krueger and defense counsel Ben Walker said the plea bargain was a good deal — especially given that it avoids the prospect of putting the young girl on the stand to testify. Krueger said the family of the victim was pleased that the girl won’t have to testify and that Bates will be sentenced to life in prison and, even if eventually released, will be under lifetime supervision.

District Judge Todd Russell set sentencing for June 23.