WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A Waco man who was linked to the 2022 sexual assault of a 20-year-old intellectually disabled woman through DNA tests from a dead baby was sentenced to 40 years in prison Friday.

Mark Anthony Melendez, 48, was set to stand trial next week in Waco's 19th State District Court before he accepted a plea agreement from the McLennan County District Attorney's Office.

Mark Anthony Melendez, 45, was released from the McLennan County Jail after posting $25,000 bond after his arrest on a first-degree felony aggravated sexual assault charge.(KWTX GRAPHIC)Before agreeing to the plea bargain, Melendez faced an automatic life prison term if convicted on the enhanced charge of aggravated sexual assault of a disabled individual because he was placed on deferred probation in 2008 for sexual assault of a child.