Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 2:23 p.m.
Richard Dean Stephen
Sun Coverage
A 63-year-old North Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today to having sexual contact with a 5-year-old girl.
Richard Dean Stephen faces up to 40 years in prison on two felony charges of attempted lewdness with a minor.
Stephen entered the guilty plea at his arraignment in District Court as part of a plea agreement that reduced 10 more serious charges down to the two.
Stephen is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on $65,000 bond.
His attorney, William Terry, asked Judge Kevin Williams to reduce bail to one more appropriate with the new charges.
Williams set a bail hearing for Friday, at which time he will also schedule Stephen for sentencing.
Authorities have said Stephen touched the genitals of a girl whose mother was renting a room in his home. The girl told a family friend, who contacted North Las Vegas police on May 19.
Stephen told police he had wrestled with the girl in a “father-like manner,” and initially denied the contact was sexual.
Stephen drove a bus for the Clark County School District. Although he drove elementary school children, the victim is not a student, police said.
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