CONVENT — A River Parishes man pleaded guilty last week to engaging in sexual activity with a juvenile, resulting in a seven-year jail sentence and registration as a sex offender.

Judge Jessie LeBlanc sentenced 23-year-old Courtney Jones on Wednesday following the Gramercy’s man plea to indecent behavior with a juvenile.

He was given credit for time served and must register as a sex offender or child predator for 15 years upon his release from incarceration.

Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig prosecuted Jones, and 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky L. Babin’s office said the plea came together minutes prior to jury selection for Jones’ scheduled trial following his 2016 arrest.

On April 26, 2016, St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives were told Jones, who was 21 at the time, had been forwarding explicit photographs of himself to a juvenile female via social media.

Detectives later learned Jones had engaged in sexual activities with the juvenile on more than one occasion.