ANDERSON — An Anderson man pleaded guilty earlier this week to having sex with a 12- and 13-year-old girl.

James M. Keeton, 18, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of child molestation, a Class B felony punishable by six to 20 years in prison.

Keeton pleaded guilty to the charges without a deal with prosecutors.

Deputy Prosecutor Steve Koester said he didn’t yet know how long of a sentence he would ask Madison Superior Court 3 Thomas Newman to impose.

Keeton’s attorney, Bryan Williams of Anderson, couldn’t be reached for comment.

According to a probable cause affidavit:

The 12-year-old Alexandria girl told detectives the first time she had sex with Keeton was in her bedroom on April 24. She said she, Keeton and the other girl were in her bedroom listening to music when Keeton began trying to pull her pants down.

The 12-year-old said she first resisted Keeton’s advances, but he persisted. Her 13-year-old friend urged her to have sex with him. Keeton and the 12-year-old had sex four more times after the first incident, she told police.

The 13-year-old Summitville girl told officers she, too, had sex with Keeton at least five times, beginning in mid-April.

Keeton's ex-girlfriend discovered he was having sex with the girls and confronted the 13-year-old about the allegations. Neighbors overheard the two arguing outdoors and notified the 12-year-old's parents. During questioning, Keeton admitted to having sex with both girls several times, including at least once with both girls at the same time.

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What’s next?

Judge Thomas Newman is expected to sentence James M. Keeton, 18, at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13, in Madison Superior Court 3. Keeton pleaded guilty earlier this week to two counts of child molestation.