A former South Whidbey man faces a prison term for sexually assaulting a woman as she slept four years ago, according to court documents.

James Knott, 61, pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court in August to attempted indecent liberties. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the prosecutor will recommend a sentence of 15 months in prison at the Oct. 6 sentencing hearing.

In an earlier memorandum, the prosecutor wrote that he intended to introduce evidence at trial that Knott had sexually assaulted an underaged girl in a similar manner in 1987. The prosecutor also wanted to amend the charges to include indecent liberties and rape in the second degree as alternatives.

In 2014, Knott was the commander of the American Legion Post on South Whidbey and met the victim through the organization.

Court documents state that the 30-year-old woman had become homeless and Knott offered her a place to stay; she did not know until she got there that he would also be at the location.

The woman was sleeping on a couch and woke up to Knott sexually assaulting her. Afterward, the woman and Knott exchanged text messages in which she tells him that she can no longer trust him because he assaulted her, saying that his actions were illegal. He apologized many times and asked for forgiveness.

The court issued a $50,000 warrant for Knott’s arrest in 2015. He was extradited from Connecticut.