LISBON — An East Liverpool man, originally charged with four counts of first degree felony rape, entered a guilty plea on one count of gross sexual imposition and immediately faced his punishment in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court on Monday.

Judge Scott Washam sentenced Brett Thompson, 20, Dairy Lane, to 18 months in prison, after Thompson entered an alford plea — a formal guilty plea entered by a defendant who maintains their innocence while acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to likely secure a conviction at trial.

Thompson was also sentenced to five years of probation and must register as a Tier 1 sex offender for the next 15 years.

The victim in the case told the court that she would never forgive Thompson but is focused on getting her life back.

Thompson was originally scheduled to face a jury trial last month but it was canceled when it was announced that a resolution had been reached between defense attorney Edward Hartwig the state represented by Assistant Attorney General William Walton II, who was assigned to prosecute the case after the Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office cited a possible conflict.

During a previous hearing, there were indications that the two sides were negotiating.

According to secret indictment, which was issued last January, Thompson allegedly compelled the victim to submit by force or threat of force to sexual conduct from Oct. 1, 2023 to Oct. 2, 2023, with each count representing a different form of sexual conduct.

(Staff writer Mary Ann Greier contributed to this story)