A former Camino Real Middle School teacher and coach faces up to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to two felony charges involving inappropriate electronic communications with a 14-year-old student.

Wyatt Cornelius, 43, pleaded guilty Oct. 19 to child solicitation by electronic communication device and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News.

Each conviction carries a possible sentence of up to 18 months in prison, according to the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office. If the maximum terms are imposed consecutively, Cornelius could receive a combined sentence of 36 months.

A sentencing hearing before District Judge Richard M. Jacquez was scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, according to the District Attorney's Office. A KTSM report published Nov. 3 said Cornelius had spent more than six months in jail awaiting sentencing.

Annie Mason, an attorney with Holt & Mason who represents two of the young survivors, is asking Jacquez to impose the maximum sentence.

"This is a crime against the entire community because this is a former educator, a former coach who was trading on the trust that parents have and teachers and parents have on coaches," Mason told KTSM.

Mason also said her firm is investigating whether Las Cruces Public Schools may have missed warning signs involving Cornelius.

What the plea agreement covers

The case followed an investigation into allegations involving a student at Camino Real Middle School, where Cornelius worked as a teacher and coach.

According to the District Attorney's Office, Cornelius exchanged Snapchat messages with a 14-year-old student, complimented the student's physical appearance, encouraged the student to sneak out and made sexually explicit comments.

Cornelius was arrested April 22, according to KVIA. He initially faced a charge of criminal sexual contact of a minor, in addition to child solicitation and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

In July, a grand jury indicted Cornelius on two additional counts of criminal sexual contact involving a second minor, according to KFOX.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed the criminal sexual contact charge in the original case and two additional charges stemming from the separate case involving the second victim, the District Attorney's Office said.

Cornelius will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years as part of the agreement.

District Attorney Fernando Macias said prosecutors considered the evidence and the victim's wishes in reaching the agreement.

"The State carefully considered the circumstances of these cases, the charges supported by the evidence and the wishes of the victim in reaching this resolution," Macias said in the District Attorney's Office announcement.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Willson, who prosecuted the case, said the agreement followed discussions with the victim and her family. He said prosecutors believed the agreement should include jail time and sex-offender registration.

Employment and detention

Cornelius was arrested in April and remained in custody as the case proceeded. In August, a judge denied a request to reconsider his detention, and he remained held without bond ahead of a trial that had been scheduled for November, according to KFOX.

Las Cruces Public Schools confirmed Cornelius was fired May 22, KFOX reported.