[KHTS] – A Santa Clarita man accused accused of soliciting a 15-year-old girl for a sexual relationship is due back in court in three weeks.

Michael Anthony Byrne, 23, of Canyon Country, faced five counts in November at his preliminary arraignment — meeting a minor for lewd behavior, two counts of oral copulation with a minor under 16 years of age, sexual penetration by a foreign object and unlawful sexual conduct.

Detectives suspect he used a social media app called Whisper to meet a 15-year-old Santa Clarita girl, officials said. The two then allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship. The crimes happened on or between Aug. 1-16 of last year, according to the complaint.

A plea deal offered in open court would allow Byrne to get credit for time served, probation and register as a sex offender for life, in exchange for a no contest plea to a 288.4 charge, which is meeting a minor for lewd purposes.

If the plea offer is refused, a preliminary hearing — whereby the evidence against Byrne is formally presented and a judge decides if there is enough to merit a trial — is expected to take place within the week.

Byrne was arrested in November at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station after reportedly turning himself in, according to Sgt. Brian Hudson of the Special Victims Bureau of the Sheriff’s Department.

He has been in custody since Nov. 17, in lieu of $175,000 bail, according to Sheriff’s Department arrest records.

If convicted of all charges, Byrne faces a maximum of seven years in state prison, according to officials with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The charges are much more severe if the alleged victim is age 14 or under, according to state law.

The case is currently being prosecuted by Nathan Barthose, deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County.