COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A former El Paso County sheriff's deputy who molested a young boy has avoided prison as part of a plea deal.
The Colorado Springs Gazette reports 44-year-old Donald Fair pleaded guilty to child sexual assault and was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years to life on supervised probation. Fair says the crime happened during a period of long hours at work combined with sleepless nights and repeated blackouts stemming from post-traumatic stress disorder.
He is an Army combat veteran who his attorney says was wounded twice fighting overseas.
Fair, who was arrested in August, acknowledged photographing himself molesting the boy and offering to share the image on an internet message board.
Prosecutors supported a deal because the child could have experienced additional trauma if he was forced to testify.
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Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazette.com
