Offender admits to sexual seduction

A Carson City sex offender was given five years in prison Tuesday after admitting guilt to a charge of statutory sexual seduction through a plea bargain agreement with Carson City prosecutors.

Travis Wayne Coulter, 35, will serve at least two years before he is eligible for parole.

Coulter admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl to avoid a trial that had him facing two potential life terms as well as an additional two- to five-year sentence for felony sexual assault, open and gross lewdness with a minor and two other charges of statutory sexual seduction.

Coulter's involvement with two other girls, ages 11 and 13, was included with the original charges.

When Coulter accepted the plea bargain in August the other charges against him were dropped.

"I understand that if I agree to this everything else will disappear," he said at the time.

In 1986, Coulter was convicted of battery and in 1992 he was convicted of battery with intent to commit sexual assault and statutory sexual seduction. He was a registered sex offender in Carson City.

At the time of the August plea agreement, a mother of two of the girls expressed outrage that Coulter could serve as little as two years.

"With time off for good behavior and credit for time already served, I'll be lucky if he even serves two years," she said.