District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that a Kane man has been sentenced to State Prison for assaulting an elderly female relative. Richard FETZECK, of Kane, was charged by Kane Borough Police Officer John Hartman with Simple Assault following an investigation into an assault against a 70-year-old female relative of FETZECK which resulted in injuries to the woman. 

At a sentencing hearing at the McKean County Courthouse on November 13th, the Judge, finding that the circumstances of the crime and the offender’s history justify a sentence in the “aggravated range,” imposed a sentence of at least 6 months to 24 months in State prison. District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer notes that an “aggravated sentence” is a sentence, the minimum of which, is more than the minimum range established in the sentencing guidelines.

She notes that a judge is permitted to impose a sentence higher than the standard guideline range established in the sentencing guidelines if the judge places a recognized reason for the deviation on the record. FETZECK is not eligible for any early parole.  FETZECK is also required to pay restitution to the victim and is prohibited from possessing firearms because the crime is a crime of domestic violence.