A registered sex offender has pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect.

Patrick Leno, 26, entered the guilty plea to South Central District Judge Gail Hagerty Friday morning.

He will be sentenced for the Class Cfelony at a later date by South Central District Judge Robert Wefald.

Leno was charged for exposing a 3-year-old girl's "sexual or intimate parts" to a 6-year-old and vice versa.

While out on bond in that case, he was charged with Class AA felony gross sexual imposition. He pleaded guilty in November to a reduced Class Afelony charge of attempted gross sexual imposition. Wefald is presiding over that case, and the cases will be sentenced together, Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Julie Lawyer said.

The attempted gross sexual imposition occurred in August while Leno was baby-sitting a 3-year-old girl. The girl told her mother about the contact, and the mother called the Bismarck Police Department. Leno was arrested that night.

In court in November, Lawyer said Leno had repeatedly made statements to fellow inmates that he tried to rape the child before he had second thoughts and stopped. The conversations were recorded, Lawyer said.

Leno is slated to be sentenced in that case on Jan. 10. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the attempted gross sexual imposition conviction and five years for child abuse and neglect.

Leno has admitted to having a "fascination" with girls between the ages of 4 and 6, Lawyer noted in writings on the case.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)