Teen Accused of Inappropriately Touching a 14-year-old Girl Gets Deferred Adjudication

SAN ANGELO, TX -- A Christoval man indicted on one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact was placed on deferred adjudication probation Tuesday after attorneys reached a plea bargain earlier in the day.

Jonathan Hopper, 22, was 18 when he allegedly touched a 14-year-old girl inappropriately according to court documents.  

The indecency charge is a second degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  District Judge Jay Weatherby conferred with attorneys a couple of times before agreeing to the deferred adjudication probation plea deal.

Weatherby said these types of cases are difficult and decisions made must be in the best interest of the victim.  According to testimony in court, the now 18-year-old victim did not want to go through the emotional trauma of testifying and facing Hopper in court.

The plea bargain places Hopper on probation for seven years and he has to register as a sex offender.  He is banned from the campus of Angelo State University and can have no contact with anyone under the age of 17.  Hopper also can’t go within 1,000 ft of a church or school where minor children may gather.  His family has requested that he be allowed to live at their home in Christoval where a minor child relative also resides.  That request is pending documentation and court approval.

An additional un-indicted stalking felony charge was vacated as part of the deal.  If Hopper completes the seven years of deferred adjudication probation, the charge could be dismissed.