BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – A Hernando County man who fled during his trial for child sex offenses was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in state prison and designated as a Sexual Offender. Christian Fischer, 43, was /convicted in absentia/ in February after failing to appear for the second day of his trial.
Hernando County Judge Daniel B. Merritt delivered the sentence Friday, sending Fischer to the Florida Department of Corrections for his convictions of Traveling to Meet a Minor and Soliciting a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct.
Convict On the Run
Fischer was out on bond when his trial began earlier this year but became a fugitive after skipping the proceedings. A Failure to Appear warrant with nationwide extradition was issued.
His evasion ended in July when the United States Marshals Service located photographs of him in New Orleans, Louisiana. Investigators tracked down Fischer’s hiding spot, leading to his eventual arrest on the outstanding warrant.
Sting Operation Led to Charges
The charges against Fischer stem from a January 20, 2022, incident. According to court records, a citizen who had created a fake social media profile of a minor to identify predators was contacted by Fischer…