Trial is set in sex abuse case

WALLACE — Convicted sex offender Don Fritzsche appeared in Shoshone County Magistrate Court Wednesday morning and waived his preliminary hearing.

Fritzsche, 33, was arrested two weeks ago in Bonners Ferry on a federal warrant for sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl and is being charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 16.  

Fritzsche’s decision to waive the preliminary  hearing resulted in the sex offender being bound to the district court. Felony arraignment proceedings are estimated to take place in Shoshone County District Court in mid-August.

Fritzsche is being held in custody at Shoshone County Jail on a bond previously set at $100,000.

The Bonners Ferry man had been investigated for months by Lt. Corey Thompson with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office who secured a federal Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP) warrant with assistance from Lt. Shane Havelin. Fritzsche became a high profile case when he fled a state warrant for his arrest running between multiple states including Texas, Oregon, Montana, and Washington — even landing on a broadcast of America’s Most Wanted.

Havelin ultimately made the arrest earlier this month at Fritzsche’s uncle’s residence in Bonners Ferry.

As of July 2006, sexual offenders who re-offend in the State of Idaho are given the possibility of a maximum punishment of life in prison. The convicted sex offender may also face federal charges as well as charges in other states for violating rules as  a registered sex offender.