Prosecutors say a statutory rape suspect was told several times that his victim was 14 years old, but committed the crime anyway. Officials say Linford Johnson has a severe intellectual disability. He was committed to the Missouri Dept. of Mental Health in November and criminal proceedings were suspended.

Those proceedings resumed Friday when Johnson pleaded guilty to a class-c felony charge statutory rape for the incident nearly two years ago.

Johnson, 26, was released from the Buchanan County Jail Friday, after a judge sentenced him to one year in prison and gave him credit for the two years he’s been in custody.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kate Schaefer told the judge that the victim and her family have moved on. Schaefer said they were made aware of plea agreement, in which Schaefer recommended Johnson be sentenced to time served. She said nearly two years in custody is an appropriate disposition of the case. The maximum punishment for the crime would have been seven years.

Circuit Judge Patrick Robb also notified Johnson that he must now register as a sex offender, and that he is now subject to deportation. Officials say the defendant is a legal resident but not a citizen of the United States. It would be up to federal immigration officials to decide whether to take further action in the case.