Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A Pennsylvania fire chief facing criminal charges for sexually harassing three female firefighters has decided to plead guilty rather than face a jury trial.
Nicholas A. Fisher, 33, the fire chief of the Lawrence Park Volunteer Fire Department up until February, has been charged with two offenses, a first-degree misdemeanor count of stalking and a third-degree misdemeanor count of harassment.
The charges stem from events that occurred between November, 2012 and early February, 2013 while Fisher was the chief. He allegedly engaged in unwanted sexual communication and inappropriate physical contact with the women. The unwanted sexual communications included repeated inquiries about the womens' sex lives, sexual comments, sexually explicit text messages, and sending "dirty'' naked pictures.
According to GoErie.com, Fisher has agreed to enter a plea Thursday. He originally sought to enter a deferral program for first time non-violent offenders, but was denied acceptance when the victims objected.
Update 5/31/2013: As expected Fisher pled guilty on Thursday, May 30, 2013 to sending three female firefighters sexually explicit text messages and comments. The charges that he grabbed the buttocks of two of the women were dismissed. More on his plea.
