News Photo by Julie Riddle Jay Dehring, right, appears in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court on Tuesday with attorney Matt Wojda.

ALPENA — Jay Dehring, 30, will serve five years of probation after he admitted in November that he showed sexually explicit photographs to a 4-year-old in October 2020.

Dehring pleaded guilty to accosting a minor for immoral purposes but denies accusations that he sexually assaulted the child, with first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges dismissed as part of his plea agreement.

Defense attorney Matt Wojda argued against terms of Dehring’s probation, which prohibit Dehring from calling adult phone lines, among other restrictions.

Labeling Dehring’s actions toward the child a “misapplicaion of sexual interest,” Wojda said his client ought to be allowed to pursue adult-focused sexual activities during his probation.

Judge Ed Black disagreed, approving the probation condition and ordering Dehring to stay away from children younger than 17 and participate in sex offender treatment.

“Regardless of whose version of events you listen to, there’s no excuse” for accosting the child, Black told Dehring, cautioning him that any violation of probation terms would mean a stay in prison.

Black also sentenced Dehring to 330 days in jail, all of which Dehring has already served since his arrest.

Also in court on Tuesday, Tyler Siegert, 23, admitted he engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in July.

At the time, Siegert believed she was 17, he said.

Siegert will return to court in April for sentencing.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693 or jriddle@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jriddleX.