Aaron Zendejas, 24, agreed to a plea bargain on the day his trial was to begin. He pleaded guilty to committing a lewd act on a child and production of child pornography, and admitted that he kidnapped the toddler in June 2008 for a couple hundred dollars so his co-defendant could molest the boy.

Judge David Danielsen will sentence Zendejas to 15 years to life in prison on Dec. 1.

"Justice was done today, as it relates to Mr. Zendejas," Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco said outside court. "His plea reflects the evidence in the case."

Defense attorney Neil Besse said Zendejas pleaded guilty because he did not want to go through the "turmoil" of a trial, not just for himself but for the victims and families involved.

"This is a man who didn't even want to have a preliminary hearing, just the very basic showing of evidence required to set a trial. He didn't even want to do that. He felt like that was too much for all the parties involved," Besse said.

The attorney said his client had a very difficult childhood, as well as some "unfortunate prior interactions" with co-defendant Jared Yaffe.

Yaffe, 30, is charged with multiple felony counts, including child sexual assault and kidnapping charges involving three children.

Yaffe quit his job and fled the country in October 2008 after San Diego police searched his home and allegedly found numerous photos of children engaged in sex acts on his computer and cell phone, according to court documents.

Yaffe allegedly persuaded the toddler to perform a sex act on him by promising to take him to McDonald's.

Yaffe, who has a preliminary hearing set for Nov. 4, was arrested in Brazil in May.