Convicted sex offender faces life in prison

A convicted Bonners Ferry sex offender faces life in prison after admitting to sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl.

Don Fritzsche pled guilty to felony lewd conduct with a child under 16.

Fritzsche will be sentenced at 9 a.m. April 13 at the District Court in Shoshone County.

In addition to life in prison, he faces up to a $50,000 fine.

Fritzsche, 33, was arrested on a federal warrant in Bonners Ferry last July. Fritzsche had fled from St. Joe River area near Avery when he learned a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Reportedly on the run from Texas and Oregon to Montana and Washington, Fritzsche was featured on the television show “America’s Most Wanted.” He was later arrested in Bonners Ferry.

His record includes prior imprisonment for sexually abusing a minor.

Fritzsche was set to go to trial this week, but agreed to a plea. In exchange, another count of the same charge was dismissed. He also agreed to undergo a psychosexual evaluation prior to sentencing.