NORWICH – A Norwich man admitted in Chenango County Court on Monday that he had sexual relations with an underage girl.

In a prearranged plea, Howard T. Dowling, 28, formerly of 33 Mechanic St., pleaded guilty to rape in the third degree. Dowling admitted having sexual relations with a female under 17 years of age, from March 10-25.

County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan sentenced Dowling to one year in the Chenango County Correctional Facility, saying that because Dowling is due to serve federal time for a bank robbery, the length of the county sentence was immaterial.