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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Pringle man facing charges of sexually molesting a 14-year-old girl pleaded no contest to a lesser charge Monday in Luzerne County Court.</p><p>Juan Monche, 36, of Grove Street, entered the plea before he was to stand trial on charges of aggravated indecent assault, child endangerment, corruption of minors, reckless endangerment, simple assault and two counts of indecent assault. Those charges were withdrawn in exchange for Monche&#8217;s no contest plea to a single felony count of unlawful contact with minors, court records show.</p><p>According to the criminal complaint, a teen girl ran away from home in March 2015 and went to Luzerne County Children and Youth Services, claiming she had been physically and sexually abused for months by Juan Monche and his wife, Jessica Monche.</p><p>The complaint stated the girl was slammed against a kitchen sink and beaten in the body and face. The Monches also forced the girl to stand topless in front of them, according to the complaint. The girl further related to investigators that Juan Monche touched her groin, inner thighs and breasts on numerous occasions, the complaint says.</p><p>Luzerne County Judge Tina Polachek Gartley ordered Juan Monche to have no contact with the victim or have unsupervised contact with minors. He must complete sexual offender treatment and avoid contact with schools, public parks, or playgrounds, the judge ordered.</p><p>Though the no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, Juan Monche can still be sentenced on the charges as though he were convicted. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 19.</p><p>Court records show Jessica Monche, 34, pleaded guilty in October to a misdemeanor count of simple assault and was sentenced the following month to two to four months in prison and a year of probation.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Pringle man pleads no contest to unlawful contact with minors