MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Mercer County man sentenced to 35 years for sex crime against child.
According to Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Brian K. Cochran, Daniel Fitzko, 35, of Rock WV was sentenced to 35 years in prison on March 16, 2023 by Circuit Court Judge Mark Wills for sexual abuse by a parent guardian or custodian, and for incest. Fitzko was arrested by the West Virginia State Police in October of 2021 and indicted by a Mercer County Grand Jury in June of 2022.
According to Cochran, Fitzko pled guilty to the charges in January 2023. Cochran requested the Court to sentence Fitzko to the maximum sentences based upon the facts of the case, and the child victim’s guardian ad litem agreed with Cochran’s recommendation. Judge Wills Ordered that Fitzko be sentenced to 10-20 years and 5–15 years, the maximum on each charge. Wills then ordered that both sentences run consecutive to each other, meaning Fitzko was sentenced to the maximum of 35 years, 20 on one charge and 15 on the other.
Cochran praised the efforts of the West Virginia State Police, and assistant prosecutor David Pfeifer in their investigation and prosecution of this case, and also expressed his continued appreciation for Child Protect of Mercer County and the Child Protective Service workers at the local Department of Health and Human Resources.
“We have a great team in place here in Mercer County to do whatever we can possibly do to keep our kids safe, and hold accountable those that harm a child in Mercer County.” Cochran further said that the maximum sentence was “clearly appropriate in this case considering what had occurred, and Judge Wills sentenced Mr. Fitzko to the maximum sentence allowed by law because there is no doubt that that’s exactly what he deserved.”
