A registered sex offender was sentenced to five years probation Tuesday after pleading no contest to assault with intent to commit a felony.

Billy J. Cowan, 25, of the Muldrow area was charged Sept. 26 with felony incest, but that charge was dismissed with prejudice and re-filed as a lesser charge.

Sue Whitekiller, assistant district attorney, pointed to the fact that Cowan is already a registered sex offender and has limited mental ability. According to court records, Cowan pleaded no contest to the assault charge on Tuesday.

The charge against Cowan stemmed from a sheriff's report made by a woman who alleged that Cowan sexually assaulted her in June.

The woman also alleged that Cowan slapped her across the face with his hand and struck her in the ribs. The woman alleged that Cowan threatened to break her nose if she told anyone about the incident.

During a July 6 interview with authorities, Cowan admitted to several consensual sexual incidents in May and June with the woman. He denied slapping or hitting the woman or threatening the woman during the encounters.

Cowan is considered an aggravated sex offender and must register as such every 90 days for life. He was convicted in Crawford County, Ark., in July 2004 for lewd or indecent proposals to a child, according to the county's sex offender registry.