Courtesy Photo­Image Stephen Fischer

Stephen Fischer of rural Hershey was sentenced Monday in Lincoln County District Court to 20-30 years in the state penitentiary on two counts of forcible sexual assault.

You've got a facebook Request! CLICK HERE!

Lincoln County District Judge Richard Birch set the two sentences to run concurrently and credited Fischer, 36, with nine days served in the county jail.

Fischer was arrested on Sept. 11, 2011 and originally charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child. The charge was later reduced to two counts of forcible sexual assault against someone who cannot defend themselves.

Before sentencing, defense attorney Blaine Gillette asked the court to consider that Fischer’s offenses were limited and not long-term abuses. Gillette also told the court that Fischer has a problem with alcohol abuse that he is fighting.

But Chief Deputy Lincoln County Attorney Tonya Roberts-Connick said Fischer had opportunities in the past to get treatment during some prior run-ins with the law, but did not take the opportunity.

Birch took all that into consideration before handing down the sentence. He told Fischer that he must register as a sex offender for life.

When Fischer was arrested, deputies acted on a report from a child under age 12 who said Fischer sexually assaulted her at least three times.

Fischer is the brother of the now deceased Daniel Fischer who was arrested in April 2011 for nine counts of child molestation and, while he was out on bond, killed himself.