FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield man accused of sexually abusing a former student in Wisconsin back in 1969 has reached an agreement with prosecutors and will not go on trial.

Prosecutors in Barron, Wis., charged Dale Soppe, 72, with indecent behavior with a child and enticing a child for immoral purposes, both felonies. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the charges.

Court documents show the charges are based on statements by a man identified as RJH. Soppe was the man’s homeroom teacher in 1969, when both were at the Western Dubuque School District.

Authorities believe Soppe began abusing RJH at that time, but that’s not what triggered the charges. RJH and his family left Iowa for Wisconsin, and Soppe visited in June 1969. The criminal complaint says Soppe, then 34, allowed RJH to drive his car to a secluded area about a mile away from the 13-year-old’s home, where authorities say he fondled the boy.

This is an unusual case. It’s rare for charges to be brought in anything short of murder when more than three decades have passed. Soppe’s Iowa residency is key.

Authorities say the clock on the Wisconsin statute of limitations stopped when Soppe returned home to Iowa. That allowed prosecutors to bring charges in May of 2006.

Soppe didn’t confess to the charges when they were brought, but the criminal complaint documents include an account of Soppe’s reaction to the accusations.

“When confronted with what RJH had said, Soppe stated that if [RJH] said it, it did happen as Soppe stated he knew [RJH] real well and that [RJH] is very honest. Soppe did recall coming to the residence in Barron County and that he had a Volkswagen vehicle, but did not recall whether or not he fondled [RJH] in the car,” the complaint reads.

Soppe’s attorney filed an unsuccessful motion to have the charges dismissed in September 2006. And early this month the two sides reached a plea agreement.

Details of the agreement are not yet public. A hearing on the plea is scheduled for July 17, the date originally scheduled for Soppe’s trial.

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com