A Ridgway man has pleaded guilty to indecent assault of a 12-year-old female.

Branden J. Etner, 24, entered the plea Thursday morning. He had initially been charged with a count of indecent assault that carried a lifetime registration as a sexual offender.

Online court records show that the plea entered Thursday was to an amended charge that, according to information from the Pennsylvania State Police, carries a 15 year registration term.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the alleged incident took place in the City of Warren in late 2019. During an interview, the victim said Etner tried to kiss her, put his hand “up under her shirt and touched her breast and grabbed her inner thigh touching her private area under her underwear.”

She told the interviewer she pushed Etner away and asked why he was touching her.

Police said Etner initially denied touching the alleged victim. “The defendant did not want to admit to touching the victim at that time due to him dating a new girlfriend.”

At a subsequent interview, “the defendant admitted … that he did touch the victim in her private area,”according to the affidavit

Also pleading guilty Thursday was Danielle L. Ross, 41, Clarendon, to DUI and period for requiring lighted lamps while an additional count of DUI was not prosecuted.

The following defendants entered not guilty pleas:

¯ Timothy A. Cope, Jr., 29, Sugar Grove. Cope has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, trespass by motor vehicle and careless driving.

¯ Noah J. Sabotino, 23, Jamestown, N.Y. Sabotino has been charged with two counts of DUI and a turning movement violation.

¯ Mark A. Stewart, 34, Corinth, N.Y. Stewart has been charged with simple assault, institutional vandalism, resisting arrest and harassment.