Published: June 23, 2009 11:02 pm      

Defendant pleads to sex, arson charges

EBENSBURG — A Mineral Point man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Cambria County Court to sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl and to setting fire to a stolen dirt bike.

Prosecutors are recommending a five- to 10-year state prison sentence for Michael David Fisher when he is sentenced Aug. 20 by Judge Norman Krumenacker.

Fisher, 23, of the 2200 block of Swigle Mountain Road, pleaded guilty to two counts each of statutory sexual assault and indecent assault and one count of arson, all felonies.

State police charged that Fisher sexually abused the girl on six occasions in September and October 2007.

In at least one incident, he gave the girl marijuana to smoke, police alleged.

In the unrelated incident, Jackson Township police charged Fisher with setting fire to a stolen dirt bike on June 18, 2008.

Fisher has been in the Cambria County Prison since his arrest in November.