ELKINS — A Beverly man accused of four counts of sexual assault involving a juvenile victim took a plea deal Thursday morning in Randolph County Circuit Court, which reduced his charge to one count, requiring him to register as a sex offender for life.

Patrick Dalton Swecker, 22, pled guilty to one count of sexual assault in the third degree, which is a felony. He could face no less than one to no more than five years in prison, a fine of $10,000, up to 50 years of extended supervision, and will be required to register as sex offender for life.

Swecker was initially indicted in 2023 on one felony count of sexual assault in the second degree, and three felony counts of sexual assault in the third degree. He was represented in court Thursday by James R. Fox.

Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Christina Harper told the court that, after conferring with the victim and the victim’s family, the state was recommending that Swecker be sentenced to probation with a year of home confinement, with the requirement of work release, and the additional condition that he participate in therapy, until “deemed completed and released by the therapist.” According to Harper, the victim requested that Swecker attend therapy.

“I do think that this is a fair resolution that’s been agreed to and approved and endorsed by the victim…,” Harper told the court.

When asked by Randolph County Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth as to what he did that made him guilty of sexual assault in the third degree, Swecker said he knowingly had sex with an underaged girl when he was 20 and she was 14.

Harper told the court that Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy Rocky Hebb received a follow-up on a complaint initially taken by another officer. According to Harper, during a forensic interview, the victim claimed to have been “raped three times” by Swecker after a friend’s birthday party around Sept. 30, 2023.

Swecker, during an interview with Hebb, allegedly confessed to having sexual intercourse with the victim, but claimed it had been “consensual.” The age of consent in West Virginia is 16 years old.

“The defendant did advise Deputy Hebb that each time he had intercourse with the victim, that it was consensual and advised that he knew the victim was only 14 years old when this happened and it was wrong to do,” Harper said.

Swecker will be sentenced on April 2.