(ABC 6 News) – UPDATE: A Kansas man pleaded guilty to one of three 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct charges after allegedly abusing an Austin child between the ages of 10 and 12.

Robert Walter Buneta, 48, is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9, 2025.

According to his plea agreement, Buneta will be allowed to return to Kansas before sentencing, where he will receive a “bottom-of-the-box” sentence according to Minnesota’s guidelines.

Minnesota’s 2024 sex offender sentencing grid states that Buneta will likely receive 144 months, or about 12 years in prison for 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct.

If Buneta fails to comply with probation conditions and GPS monitoring between his plea and sentencing, he may be sentenced to more time, according to the plea agreement.

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(ABC 6 News) – An Austin man accused of sexually abusing a child was booked into the Mower County Jail Sept. 10, and appeared Sept. 11 in Mower County Court.

Robert Walter Buneta, 48, faces three 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct charges after allegedly sexually assaulting the child between ages 10 and 12.

Buneta is currently held on $25,000 bail with conditions, or $50,000 bail with no conditions.

He is scheduled to appear in court again Sept. 19.

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(ABC 6 News) – An Austin man failed to appear in Mower County Court Thursday on three charges of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child.

According to court documents, Robert Walter Buneta, 48, is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child over a span of about three years.

According to court documents, the child told police Buneta molested her beginning at age 10, but when she told an adult, the woman told Buneta to stop and he left her alone for about a year.

From age 11-12, the child told police Buneta raped her repeatedly, and described multiple sexual encounters.

Austin police spoke with Buneta in June, and he denied any sexual contact with the child.