A former Manhattan Parks & Recreation supervisor will be sentenced early next year after entering a no contest plea Thursday to two charges of sexual exploitation of a child. Both are level five felonies.
Zach Bayless appeared in front of Pottawatomie County Judge Jeff Elder where he entered the plea alongside his attorney, waiving his right to a preliminary hearing. County Attorney Sherri Schuck testified that investigators found Bayless downloaded and shared an image of an 11-13 year old girl in a state of undress using the social media app Kik.
Investigators received a cyber tip and were able to trace the IP address to Bayless’ home in the Blue Township area. The incidents occurred between late November and December of 2020 and again in May 2021, at which time Bayless was arrested.
Judge Elder found there was enough evidence to support convicting Bayless and set a sentencing hearing for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17. He remains free on bond.
As part of the plea agreement, Bayless has been ordered to register as a sex offender, within the next three days. Judge Elder says he’ll also require lifetime post release supervision, following his release from prison.
