A young Redmond man will avoid a lifetime sex offender label in exchange for taking a plea deal.

Seth Anthony Cluff, 18, was arrested in October on suspicion of abusing three young victims, including several charges falling under Measure 11, Oregon’s mandatory sentencing law for serious felonies.

For a time he faced 26 counts, for which he could have received up to 75 years in prison.

Cluff appeared Wednesday in custody and in person in Deschutes County Circuit Court before Judge Wells Ashby to plead no contest to one charge of coercion, and guilty to two counts of attempting to commit the Class C felony of second-degree assault. He received a prison term of 30 months with credit for time served in the Deschutes County jail, and 36 months post-prison supervision.

The remaining charges, including first-degree sodomy and first-degree sex abuse, were dropped.

Cluff was accused of sexually abusing three victims, ages 10 and 11, and forcing them to consume marijuana. He was alleged to have burned their stomachs with a lighter, cut them with a soda can and thrown a hammer at the face of one victim. The alleged crimes were said to have taken place beginning in October 2014.

His trial was shaping up to be long and complex, according to court documents. The state was preparing to call 25 witnesses, including the three victims and their father, who made the initial report to police.

Cluff was represented by Bend defense attorney Valerie Wright.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com