Days into his trial on charges that he molested a teenage church member more than a decade ago, the former pastor of Cowboy Way Church in Alvarado pleaded guilty Monday to indecency with a child in exchange for seven years’ deferred adjudication probation.

Under the sentence, if Dan William Haby Jr. abides by the terms of his probation, the case will be dismissed with no conviction on his record.

If he violates probation, he can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Either way, Haby is now required to register as a sex offender for life.

Afterward, the victim, now 31, said Haby’s plea gave him a “freedom that I haven’t had in 16 years.”

“It forced him to tell everyone that he’s guilty and admit to what’s he done, and that is a freedom for me not to have to carry the burden of what’s been 16 years of a lie,” the victim said. “I pray that he finds forgiveness and that he seeks the healing … and the counseling he needs to get better.”

The Star-Telegram generally does not identify accusers in sexual misconduct cases.

Defense attorneys Mark Daniel and Andrew Decker called the plea deal “a favorable resolution for all parties involved.”

In a statement Monday night, prosecutors said: “For years, Mr. Haby’s victims have wanted to hear him stand up and admit guilt for his crimes. Today, that finally happened. He will now be a registered sex offender for the remainder of his life, which will no longer allow him to hide as a wolf among his flock. The grace his victims have shown is inspiring, and we hope today’s proceedings will bring them some closure.”

The plea agreement came after prosecutors and Haby’s attorneys argued before state District Judge Ruben Gonzalez about whether a second man, Jacob Thibodeaux, should be allowed to testify before jurors.

Thibodeaux, who agreed to be identified in sharing his story with the Star-Telegram for an article published in November 2014, accused Haby of having inappropriate contact with him when he was 16, leading to a second indecency with a child indictment against Haby in Tarrant County.

Daniel argued that Thibodeaux should not be allowed to testify because, Daniel said, evidence showed Thibodeaux was actually 17 when the incident he described occurred.

Gonzalez had not yet ruled on that when Daniel approached prosecutors McLaughlin and Rebecca McIntire about Haby’s wish to discuss a plea.

Haby pleaded guilty to two of the six counts of indecency with a child in the indictment. He agreed to pay a $700 fine, get sex offender treatment and counseling, and have no contact with anyone under 17.

Gonzalez also tacked on seven days in Tarrant County Jail.

Haby also “plead in bar” to a second indecency charge involving Thibodeaux. He admitted having inappropriate sexual contact with Thibodeaux when he was younger than 17. But he was not sentenced in that case.

Haby showed little emotion as he stood in court Monday afternoon, answering “Yes, sir” to repeated questions from his defense attorney and then from McLaughlin about whether he had, in fact, done what the victims said he did.

“I’m pleading because I’m guilty,” Haby later told the judge.

McLaughlin informed Haby that before agreeing to the guilty plea, prosecutors consulted with the unnamed victim, with Thibodeaux and with a third man who had accused Haby of inappropriate contact in Johnson County.

“It is through their grace that we’ve allowed this offer to go through,” McLaughlin said.

Haby was indicted in Johnson County in the third man’s case, but the case was dismissed in September when the question was raised of whether he was 16 or 17 when the conduct occurred.

Both Thibodeaux and the Johnson County accuser were in the courtroom when Haby gave his plea. The Tarrant County victim was not present, but at his request McLaughlin read aloud a letter he once sent to Haby.

The man had testified Friday that the molestation started when he was 15 and spending the night at the Fort Worth home where Haby lived with roommates. He said Haby told him it was the teen’s calling from God to help Haby relieve stress so he could be a better pastor.

He left the church in 2009. Before contacting police, in May 2014 he wrote Haby a letter confronting him about the abuse. He received no response.

In the letter, the man told Haby that he was just then able to comprehend the ramifications of Haby’s sexual abuse, leaving him unable to trust others and understand the concept of love.

He recounted some details of the abuse and how Haby first deceived him with talk of how the sex was making Haby a better pastor and later, when the victim was older, through manipulation regarding whether the victim could preach and teach at the Cowboy Way Church.

“This whole time the guilt of servicing you or serving God is a paradox that I still, today, struggle with,” the victim wrote Haby. “I wish I could go back and tell my 15-year-old self to flee from your wicked ways and I might not have been haunted by your odd fantasies for the last 14 years of my life.”

He wrote that he would no longer be keeping the secret and encouraged Haby to admit to others what he had done.

In an interview after the court hearing Monday, the victim said he never sought prison time for Haby but came forward for healing for himself, to prevent future victims and so that his young son would one day be proud of him for doing all he could do.

“I pray that those who have not come forward [and who] have experienced this through Dan Haby, or even through another suspect, will have the courage to stand up and fight for those who don’t have the voice to stand up to fight for themselves,” he said.