Jose David Gonzalez-Raygoza, 26, pleaded guilty in exchange for the district attorney dropping a second charge - annoying or molesting a 10-year-old girl.

In addition, Superior Court Judge Hector Ramon did not give Gonzalez-Raygoza the maximum penalties - one year in jail and $5,000 - but instead gave him three years probation, $130 in court restitution, an order not to contact or be near either the 10- or 15-year-old. In addition, Gonzalez-Raygoza must register for life as a sex offender.

"Based on discussions with my client, we thought that was the way to go," public defender Bernie Saucedo said. "I thought it was fair and appropriate."

As an illegal immigrant from Mexico, Gonzalez-Raygoza is still being held in custody and will likely be deported, attorneys said.

Court documents reveal Gonzalez-Raygoza confessed to following a 15-year-old near Gilroy High School and following a girl near Glen View Elementary School, which could have been an incident involving a 10-year-old that was reported to police. He also confessed to following two other young girls on two other occasions.

Gonzalez-Raygoza was arrested after the 15-year-old and her mother called police because he had appeared three times in their vicinity Nov. 9, including once while the girl was walking home from school about 3 p.m.

During this first encounter, he pulled up next to her and told her to get into his white truck, but the girl ran home instead. He then appeared at stores the girl was patronizing on three additional occasions that day.

On Monday, Gonzalez-Raygoza - a heavyset man with a prominent brow and perplexed look - appeared in custody at the South County Courthouse wearing a brown prison-issued jumpsuit.

Three supporters who spoke only Spanish and would not identify themselves were in the audience for the plea.

The defendant flashed them a smile before the plea, but hung his head and hardly looked at them afterward.

The plea promises an end to more than a month of court proceedings.