A paroled burglar accused of having sex with an underage girl in Pittsfield Township pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct Thursday, authorities said.

David Sears, 29, entered the plea agreement during his preliminary hearing on the charges. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop charges of child sexually abusive activity and possession of child sexually abusive material.

David Sears

Under the terms of the agreement, Sears will serve 10 to 15 years in prison, officials said.

The investigation began last week when the 14-year-old girl’s family members learned of the relationship and called police, Pittsfield Township police said. In Michigan, the legal age of consent is 16.

Police said the relationship had been occurring for several months. Detectives recovered a video that confirmed Sears and the girl were having a relationship, police said.

Department of Corrections records show Sears was paroled on Jan. 23, 2007 after being convicted in 2001 of first-degree home invasion in Wayne County and second-degree home invasion in Washtenaw County. In the Wayne County case, he was sentenced to a minimum of six years and maximum of 20 years in prison. He also has convictions for larceny in a building, stealing a financial transaction device, third-degree home invasion and breaking and entering, records show.

Sears is being held at the Washtenaw County Jail on $300,000 bond.