By Brendan West
The Evening Sun
Copyright 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
KINGSDALE, Pa. — A former Kingsdale Fire Co. chief will spend nearly a year in prison for having sex with two 15-year-old junior firefighters.
Matthew G. Schatz, 38, of 26 Scott St., Hanover, pleaded guilty in March to two counts of statutory sexual assault.
Adams County President Judge John D. Kuhn sentenced Schatz on Thursday to 111/2 to 231/2 months in Adams County prison, followed by two years on probation.
Kuhn also mandated Schatz have no contact with the victims, and pay more than $600 in fines.
Upon hearing the beginning of his sentence, Schatz told his attorney, Robert Chester, of Gettysburg, he wanted a minute to talk with his wife. When Chester relayed that information to the court, Kuhn asked Schatz why.
“I need to talk to my wife. I might be withdrawing my plea,” Schatz said.
Kuhn said Schatz could attempt to withdraw his plea, but to wait for the judge to finish entering the order.
“It looks like you’re trying to negotiate after hearing your sentence,” Kuhn told Schatz. “That’s not how it works.”
The judge said if Schatz were to attempt to withdraw his plea, he would hold Schatz to a manifest-injustice standard - a higher standard than usually imposed.
Chester also asked Kuhn to grant Schatz a furlough to get his business affairs in order.
Kuhn granted the furlough, although he noted he hoped people usually came to sentencing hearings knowing they might have to go to prison.
Schatz must report to Adams County prison no later than 6 p.m. June 22.
“I’m sorry for hurting anyone and sorry for taking the court’s time,” Schatz said at the hearing. “I’m a business owner just trying to make it with what I’m doing.”
Littlestown Police charged Schatz in October 2005 with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, statutory sexual assault and indecent assault after an anonymous telephone call made earlier that year sparked an investigation.
Police said Schatz had sex with two 15-year-old girls, who were junior members of Kingsdale Fire Co., from 2001 to 2005. Schatz was 33 at the onset, and a lieutenant in the company.
The girls testified at a preliminary hearing in August 2006 they met Schatz through the fire company, and had sex with him at the station on Route 194 and at Schatz’s Littlestown home.