A Carrollton man pleaded guilty last week to one of the two charges of statutory sodomy he was facing.

Court records indicate that 33-year-old Howard Eugene Hughes Jr changed his plea to guilty on the first count Tuesday, Apr. 14.  According to the probable cause statement, Carrollton police received a report in early October 2025 that a 16-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted at a home in the town. Officers took statements from the girl, who accused Hughes of assaulting her after she sat down on his bed. The statement goes on to allege that Hughes rolled the victim over and assaulted her twice. When he was questioned by police, Hughes claimed that the victim had made advances toward him. Police added that Hughes had called his mom after he was placed under arrest and made the same statements to her.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for the morning of June 9. The Department of Corrections will conduct a sex offender assessment on the defendant.