BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A former Raleigh County firefighter indicted on hundreds of sex crimes involving his 11-year-old stepdaughter pled guilty on Wednesday to multiple charges for which he stands to face decades in prison.
36-year-old William Pettry went before Raleigh County Circuit Judge, Andrew Dimlich on Wednesday afternoon, issuing a “guilty” plea on charges of First-Degree Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse by a Parent, Guardian, or Custodian, and Use of Minor in Filming Sexually Explicit Conduct – count one, count eight, and count eighteen in the indictment, respectively – as part of a plea bargain.
Pettry was indicated on nearly 400 charges in relation to the sexual abuse of his stepdaughter, who was the subject of a sexually explicit video produced by Pettry.
It was revealed during Wednesday’s hearing that a relative of the victim was alarmed to discover obscene materials on the juvenile’s cellular device, one of which depicted the victim engaging in oral sex with Pettry, who would later admit to “coaching” the victim through the process.
Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield noted that the victim had lost her mother and sister in a vehicle accident just before her victimization at the hands of Pettry began – a situation to which Hatfield referred as, “specifically horrific.”
He would also indicate that Pettry’s previous designation as a Raleigh County Firefighter should have no bearing upon the approach of the state in this case, declaring, “Regardless of who the defendant is, regardless of what good he had done when he was in the community up into this point, that buys no goodwill for me. This is an ultimate betrayal of a man’s position in a young lady’s life.”
Pettry will return to Raleigh County Court the morning of May 6, 2024, and is expected to be sentenced to approximately 37.5 to 130 – indeterminate.
Two of the charges – First Degree Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse by a Parent, Guardian, or Custodian – carry fixed sentences of 25 to 100 years and 10 to 25 years in prison, respectively. The charge of Use of a Minor in Filming Sexually Explicit Conduct carries a maximum sentence of ten years, which Hatfield says he will be pursuing.
I’ll be asking for consecutive sentences on everything, and the maximum, at that,” he said. “I will be asking for 10 years, and then I’ll be asking that they all be run consecutively, or back-to-back, and not at the same time.”
Pettry faces a minimum sentence of 37.5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 130 years.
According to the West Virginia State Police, an underage child had received numerous pornographic pictures and videos from William Pettry. Mr. Pettry allegedly made the child perform sexual acts with him, and state Police have indicated that Pettry attempted to seduce the juvenile.
The messages that Pettry sent the child were very vulgar and graphic. Several of the incidents occurred in July of 2023 in the Naoma area.
Troopers charged William Pettry with sexual assault, sexual abuse, soliciting a minor, and using pornography to seduce a child.
Wednesday’s hearing will address charges of First-Degree Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse by a Parent or Guardian, and Use of a Minor in Filming Sexually Explicit Conduct. Pettry faces a maximum sentence of 37.5 to 130 years in prison for his crimes.
The offender’s case was previously presented to a Grand Jury, and he was indicted on 393 total counts.
Counts 1 and 2 were first-degree sexual assault
Counts 3-7 were first-degree sexual abuse
Counts 8-14 were sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or custodian
Counts 15-17 were soliciting a minor via a computer
Counts 18-23 were the use of a minor in the production of child porn.
Counts 24-207 were the use of obscene matter to seduce a minor.
Counts 208-391 were displays of obscene matter to a minor.
Count 392 was the distribution of sexually explicit material involving a minor
Count 393 was a mandatory sentence for sex offenders.
In March, 35-year-old firefighter William Pettry responded to a fatal car crash that killed his wife and 3-year-old daughter in Raleigh County. Following the tragic accident, the community rallied around Pettry and supported him both emotionally and financially as one GoFundMe raised over $16,000 for Pettry.
Pettry was jailed at Southern Regional Jail on a $250,000 bond.