Clarksville man changes mind, takes deal in abuse death

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A southern Indiana man has reversed himself again and agreed to plead guilty in the child abuse death of his former girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter.

Twenty-eight-year-old Joseph Manske of Clarksville entered the plea Tuesday in Clark Circuit Court a day after withdrawing from the plea agreement he had made Friday.

The terms of the deal didn't change: Manske admitted two charges of neglect of a dependent involving Alexis Arensman and the girl's 4-year-old sister and faces to 35 years in prison and five years on probation.

Manske's attorney, Nick Carrafa, said his client didn't wish to admit direct involvement in Alexis' Feb. 22, 2015, death. Bruises and marks were found on her body, and coroners ruled she died from battered child syndrome.

Alexis' mother, 25-year-old Cynthia Weigleb, faces similar charges.