BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Former Raleigh County firefighter William Pettry could spend the remainder of his life behind bars following Monday’s sentencing for crimes involving the sexually explicit filming and sexual abuse of his stepdaughter, a juvenile minor.
Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield reports that, on Monday, May 6, 2024, William Pettry was sentenced by Raleigh County Circuit Judge Dimlich to the maximum sentence allowable law for the crimes of which he had been convicted, with a net aggregate sentence of 37.5 years to 130 years in prison having been handed down.
The sentence was issued with regard to three counts, those being Sexual Abuse by a Parent, Guardian, Custodian, or Person of Trust, Use of a Minor in Filming Sexually Explicit Content, and First-Degree Sexual Assault.
In the event that Pettry sees release from prison on parole during his lifetime after having served the minimum sentence of 37.5 years, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his natural life and will face the maximum period of post-release supervision permittable by law – 50 years.
Judge Dimlich noted that Pettry’s lack of remorse as detailed in the Risk Assessment Evaluation, the seriousness of the conduct in question, the age of the victim involved, and Pettry’s position as the victim’s stepfather were among the factors which informed his decision with regard to the sentencing.
Pettry was previously indicted on nearly 400 charges in relation to the sexual abuse of his stepdaughter, who was also the subject of sexually explicit video content produced by Pettry.
“Regardless of who the defendant is, regardless of what he had done good or who he was in the community up to this point, that buys no goodwill from me,” said Hatfield of Pettry’s former role as a volunteer firefighter. “This is an ultimate betrayal of a man’s position in a young lady’s life.”
