AMARILLO, Texas — A man whose conviction of aggravated sexual assault of a child was overturned on appeal last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Potter County District Attorney Randall Sims said Friday that Ernest G. Lopez II pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious bodily injury to 6-month-old Isis Charm Vas in October 2000. Vas died a day after she suffered injuries while in Lopez's care.
Sims says the plea came in a deal with prosecutors in return for a nine-year prison sentence. He says the 41-year-old Lopez gets credit for time served.
Authorities said he sexually assaulted and shook the girl, leading to his conviction and a 60-year sentence. A Texas appeals court overturned the conviction, finding he had "deficient" counsel.
Lopez's attorney, Bill McKinney, declined to comment.
