Ex-firefighter gets 10 years for sex abuse
February 28, 2009
NEWPORT NEWS - A former Newport News firefighter medic was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison after being found guilty last fall to sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.
Michael John Fox, 36, of 67th Street, was sentenced to 25 years, with 15 years suspended, on a forcible sodomy charge.
He was also ordered to serve 10 years on each of three carnal knowledge counts — all running concurrently with the sodomy count. Then he was ordered to serve five years apiece — all suspended — on three indecent liberties charges.
Issued by Newport News Circuit Court Judge Timothy S. Fisher, the sentence was within the state's discretionary sentencing guidelines that called for Fox to get between seven years and 15 years in prison. It was below the midpoint of 12 years and 11 months in prison.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Robin L. Farkas asked for a sentence within the guidelines, while Fox's lawyer, Ronald L. Smith, said Fox's prior background called for going below the guidelines.
Fox had no criminal record, served 12 years in the Navy before working for the Newport News Fire Department for five years, and obeyed all court orders while out on bond.
But Fisher decided a sentence within the guidelines was warranted.
"This is someone who by law cannot consent," Fisher said of the victim, referring to the girl's age at the time. "This was planned and carried out over not a short period of time," the judge added.
Fox worked as a firefighter medic between August 2003 and April 2008. He was accused of having intercourse with the girl three times and attempting or performing other sex acts with her over three months in 2007.
The girl testified during the trial that Fox used his cell phone to send her explicit video and text messages. In addition, he sent a picture of himself, shirtless and wearing his firefighter gear, with a message attached, she said.