EMPORIUM — An Emporium man entered a guilty plea related to inappropriate physical contact with a minor during Return Day proceedings held Tuesday at the Cameron County Courthouse.

Norman Francis Pettit, 22, plead guilty to one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (IDSI) with a person under the age of 16, and will be sentenced following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation by the Cameron County Probation Department.

According to court documents, Pettit was babysitting several young children for a female friend who was working an overnight shift. The female’s younger sister asked if she and two of her teenage friends could stay the night, to which she agreed.

Sometime in the night, Pettit is said to have entered the room where one of the teens was asleep, removed her clothing, and forcibly violated her. The other two teens report that Pettit displayed odd and disturbing behavior throughout the evening, grabbing one of the girls and throwing her to the ground and talking about inappropriate subject matter. Unwanted physical contact was reported by one of the other teens.

Pettit entered his plea during a hearing that was scheduled as Jury Call, and the last opportunity to accept a negotiated plea for the offenses.

Several other counts against Pettit charged in relation to this incident will not be prosecuted as part of the plea arrangement. For the charge of IDSI, the sentencing range allows for a period of incarceration of between 54 and 72 months for a minimum, and up to 20 years in prison maximum.

The pre-sentence investigation is expected to be completed by May 1, and sentencing will be scheduled once the results have been received by the court.