The Dallas, Oregon, man accused of posing online as a teenage girl and encouraging boys in Deschutes County to send him naked pictures of themselves has agreed to serve 18 years in prison.

Brandon Howard Kautz, 26, was in Deschutes County Circuit Court on Tuesday to plead guilty to 10 felonies. He was arrested by Redmond Police in July and charged with nine counts connected to two alleged victims. His charges more than tripled in August after eight more alleged victims talked to investigators.

Kautz’s trial has been delayed in part because of a pending federal criminal case involving several of the same alleged victims and involving acts said to have taken place during the same period of time as those alleged in the circuit court case — September 2015 and January 2016. Kautz has yet to enter a plea in federal court.

He’s opted to serve his sentence in federal prison, his lawyer, Erick Ward, told the judge on Tuesday.

Kautz’s sentencing in circuit court is scheduled for Sept. 19. He’s agreed to serve 18 years in prison, though a judge has yet to approve his plea deal.

Kautz was born and raised in Bend. At the time of his arrest he was a 25-year-old Oregon State University student living with his parents in Dallas.

He’s accused of pretending to be a teenage girl on Facebook and Instagram and engaging in sexually explicit conversations with boys and encouraging them to send him sexually explicit photos. He’s said to have known many of his alleged victims from his time living in Deschutes County.

According to court documents, Kautz would allegedly use fake profiles to initiate contact with boys ages 10 to 17. He would then introduce the boys to the real Kautz, and send them sexually explicit photos, according to court documents.

The state alleges some of the victims obliged him and sent photos of themselves engaging in sex acts.

On Tuesday, Kautz appeared before Judge A. Michael Adler in a polo shirt and sneakers alongside family members and his attorney.

Adler asked how he pleaded and Kautz answered “guilty” to three charges of luring a minor, three charges of first-degree encouraging child sex abuse and four charges of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct.

Kautz is partially deaf due to a childhood illness and suffers from chronic ear infections. Ward argued in August for lowering his bond amount, saying the conditions in the Deschutes County jail were too harsh for his client. His client was “too young and physically fragile to let languish” in the Deschutes County jail while he awaited trial.

On Tuesday, Kautz asked Adler for an assisted listening device to hear the judge. Kautz has been out of custody since August, when his parents paid $25,000 in security and he was ordered to remain at their home until his case is resolved.

In April, Ward asked the court to have Kautz’s mental health evaluated due to concerns providers had regarding Kautz’s mental stability and competency to stand trial. Ward said Kautz had a working diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and had experienced psychotic episodes.

“In addition to exhibiting a shocking physical deterioration and a sullen, agitated and withdrawn demeanor,” Ward wrote to Judge Beth Bagley, “Mr. Kautz was unable to discuss any aspect of his case or any critical decision regarding his case.”

Bagley authorized Kautz’s evaluation by the state mental hospital in Salem. After its report was issued, a hearing was held to determine if he was fit to stand trial and Bagley ruled he was.

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