Lyons pleads guilty to amended charge

Merlin Franklin Lyons, 57, of Cass Lake, pleaded guilty Oct. 20, before Judge John Melbye in Beltrami County District Court to an amended charge of gross misdemeanor lewd conduct. The original charge was serious felony fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with victim younger than 13 years old. His next court date will be Nov. 23.

According to the criminal complaint, Lyons molested a 4-year-old girl June 2 while she was sitting on his lap watching television.