North Dakota man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 4-year-old girl, giving her STD

A North Dakota man could face 20 years in prison after prosecutors said he sexually assaulted a 4-year-old girl who contracted a sexually transmitted disease from him.

According to the Bismarck Tribune, Paxton Heywood, 21, of Bismarck, pleaded guilty this week to a charge of gross sexual imposition in the case.

Prosecutors said the child was diagnosed with the STD during an October emergency room visit, KFYR-TV reported. The victim later spoke to investigators and was "very articulate" about what happened, authorities told the Tribune.

Judge Pamela Nesvig has called for a presentencing investigation, the Tribune reported.