Jerod MacDonald-Evoy

The Republic | azcentral.com

Tyler Kost, the San Tan Valley 20-year-old who had been labeled as a serial teen rapist by Pinal County investigators, accepted a plea deal Friday.

Kost pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of child abuse, according to Pinal County Attorney's Office spokeswoman Tiffany Davila. Attempted sexual conduct with a minor is a Class 3 felony and child abuse is a Class 4 felony, Davila said.

Kost was an 18-year-old high-school student when he was indicted on more than two dozen felony charges. Kost was accused of sexually assaulting and molesting 11 girls, ages 12 to 17, when he was between the ages of 13 and 18 himself. Girls told investigators, according to court documents, that he started forcing himself on them in 2009 and continued to do so through April 2014.

The prosecution and defense began negotiating the plea deal at 10 a.m. Friday and negotiations ended at 5 p.m., Davila said.

Tyler Kost released on bond from Pinal County jail while awaiting trial

"We are happy we can finally bring this case to a close," Davila said, adding that Kost's accusers were happy with the plea deal.

Kost's defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening.

As part of the plea deal, Kost could face between 3 to 7½ in prison, Davila said. The terms of the deal include supervised probation for 15 years and his registration as a sex offender.

Davila said Kost can petition to be removed from the sex-offender registry when he turns 25.

His sentencing is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 10 in Pinal County Superior Court.